University of North Carolina Athletics
Making The Transition
October 19, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Transitioning from high school to college can be difficult, especially for a student-athlete. It's a different place, a different team, and the level of competition is stronger. However, expectations often are for freshmen to come in and contribute right away, and there's no exception when it comes to North Carolina basketball this season.
Justin Jackson became a starter as a freshman last year while Joel Berry II and Theo Pinson provided much depth coming off the bench. Carolina has two freshmen this year who will be worked in the rotation for the team in 2015-16.
Midlothian, Va.
6-4, 175
Scouting Report: Above all else, everyone seems to agree that Williams is a potentially elite shooter. His ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc will help spread the floor, giving the post players more room to work on the block. His shooting may be his most obvious strength, but Williams isn't afraid to put the ball on the ground and take it to the hole.
“His ability to shoot the ball is the first thing that caught my eye,” head coach Roy Williams said. “What he has shown so far is that he is not just a shooter, he is a good basketball player and he can do a lot of things other than just shoot the ball.”
Berry noticed Williams' touch from outside, but he also picked up on the freshman's defensive skills.
“On defense he likes to get up in on the guy and that's one thing that we like to put emphasis on. We like to get up on people and make them turn over the ball and he does a great job with that.”
Already impressing the team with his shooting and defense, Williams will be looking to earn minutes at the 2.
Luke Maye, F
Huntersville, N.C.
6-7, 230
Scouting Report: Maye easily averaged a double-double his senior year at 20.7 points and 15.5 rebounds at Hough High School. Maye is a good shooter, and not just for his height. He, like Williams, will stretch the floor drawing a big man away from the basket. He's got good court awareness and can make passes that other big man usually don't. Getting playing time may be difficult behind Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Joel James and Isaiah Hicks.
One of the biggest transitions for freshmen to make is the physicality of the college game. Players are bigger, faster and stronger. First-year players tend to come in needing muscle and a weightlifting regimen to play physically. Maye came in with relatively good size, but Williams was recruited at 165 lbs. Up to 175 now, Williams has more defined arms and has taken the lifting practices to heart.
“You should have seen him when he first got here. He was pretty skinny,” Berry said of Williams. “He put on some weight this summer. I think he'll be able to [play]. Justin [Jackson] was able to do the same thing.”
As Williams and Maye continue to get into the full swing of preseason with the team, they'll start one of the final transitions they'll have to make their freshman year. They'll have to learn the plays and learn how to play Carolina basketball, running the fast breaks and crashing the boards.
Both newcomers have the potential to earn valuable playing time, they'll just need to find their role on the team this year.
