Four Corners

CHAPEL HILL–With Memorial Day weekend in the past and the official start of summer just a few weeks away, here are some of the latest Tar Heel basketball news items fans may have missed as the weather warms in Chapel Hill.

1. NEWS & NOTES
• Carolina men's basketball was one of 10 UNC teams to a perfect score of 1000 in the four-year Academic Progress Rates released by the NCAA last week.

• Phil Ford underwent surgery for prostate cancer, a procedure his doctor says caught the disease early. "I'm in a really good place spiritually and know I'm in the best place in the hands of God, Dr. Wallen and the staff at UNC Hospitals," Ford said. "I'll manage this with their help and the support of my family and friends."

• Ford's recent basketball workshop in Chapel Hill drew a rave review.

2. LAST WEEK
• Director of player development Eric Hoots joined the Carolina Insider podcast, chatting with hosts Jones Angell and Adam Lucas to discuss his myriad roles in the Tar Heel program:

• Here's a heartwarming story from WRAL of how a pair of young fans met their pen pals Theo Pinson and Seventh Woods.

3. 2018-19 SEASON TIDBITS
• Luke Maye announced he has withdrawn from the NBA Draft and will return to Carolina for his senior season in 2018-19:

I have had a great experience learning from the NBA process and growing as a basketball player during the past couple weeks. I would like to thank my family, friends, coaches and teammates for all of their support. Through this process, I have decided that I am going to comeback to school to improve as a player and finish my college career. I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that I will face and there is no better group to do it with than my teammates and the Carolina family! Time to finish the right way with two of the best players and leaders that I know! Let's finish our legacy the right way!#RoadtoMinneapolis

A post shared by Luke Maye (@luke_maye32) on May 24, 2018 at 5:34am PDT

• After making his decision, Maye traveled to South Africa with a contingent from UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School for an immersion program to study inclusive business and leadership.

• Maye's return should be a boon to the Tar Heel lineup next season.

4. TAR HEELS IN THE PROS
• Joel Berry II worked out for the Sacramento Kings last week, afterward discussing the Carolina Basketball family, his bond with second-year Kings forward Justin Jackson and what he's learned his former NCAA champion teammate.

• Theo Pinson worked out for the Utah Jazz:

.@tpinsonn out of @UNC_Basketball had his predraft workout with the Jazz today.

Hear why he feels like, "I came in the league at the right time."

>> https://t.co/fALzObn6b7 pic.twitter.com/HfMdUzkp6O
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) May 28, 2018

• Jawad Williams won a league championship in Japan:

2017-2018 B League Champions! ??

A post shared by Jawad Williams (@worldwad) on May 27, 2018 at 4:21am PDT

• Jackson Simmons has taken a new job as an assistant video coordinator with the Charlotte Hornets, joining fellow Tar Heels Michael Jordan, Mitch Kupchak and Buzz Peterson in the Queen City:

I am excited to announce that I am joining the Charlotte Hornets as the Assistant Video Coordinator. I want to thank those who allowed me to pursue this tremendous opportunity and I cannot wait to get to work! #buzzcity

A post shared by Jackson Simmons (@jsimms_21) on May 25, 2018 at 6:06pm PDT

• Marcus Paige improved his shooting percentages, rebounding, assists and steals in his second season as a pro. Paige will be a restricted free agent this summer, eligible to receive a qualifying offer and another two-way contract from the Hornets.

• Tony Bradley showed potential and promise in his rookie year with the Utah Jazz, despite appearing in just nine regular season games in 2017-18.

• Harrison Barnes continued his 10 Questions interview series for The Players' Tribune, talking this time with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

• Pat Sullivan reportedly is under consideration for an assistant coaching position with the New York Knicks.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Joel Berry II

Tony Bradley

Justin Jackson

Luke Maye

Theo Pinson

Seventh Woods

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