The New Wave de Roy Williams: UNC in the NBA

I know you're used to the usual LeBron bias encompassing every conversation that surrounds the NBA, but I decided to divulge some details about some other guys in the association. And yes, it contains a Carolina...bias, my bad. Here's a tip of the cap to the Tar Heels who made the leap to the league under the tutelage of Roy Williams.

Media day always inspires hope and optimism in fans as they observe their players discussing the possibility of future promise in their freshly pressed uniforms. I'm prone to avoid this problematic mindstate, but I can't resist the optimism that overwhelms me when witnessing two former top-tier McDonald's All-American talents teaming up together with the Warriors. These are arguably the two biggest signees, as far as buzz is concerned, during the Roy Williams era. Both Barnes and McAdoo were ranked #1 overall at their position coming out of high school. Not to mention, they proved their potential in the array of high school showcases leading up to their first year in Chapel Hill. Many Tar Heel fans never give these two their due because of that high school hype. I'm hoping the duo do their due diligence to prove the doubters wrong.

Harrison Barnes=Black Falcon:

Was selected by Golden State in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft (seventh overall).

Named to 2012-13 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Started all 81 games as a Rookie in 2012-2013

Slumped down a bit statiscally during sophomore season, but playing time split.

Highlight: Averaged 16.1 ppg in 2013 Warriors playoff run & makes heroic headline

James Michael McAdoo What it Do:

Once a legitimate top five pick after a fantastic freshman campaign, McAdoo ended his loyal tenure with the Tar Heels in undrafted turmoil after three years in Chapel Hill. JMM made a statement that he wasn't taking the criticism lightly with this posterization over the Hornets' lottery pick, Noah Vonleh. Basically, 'U AINT ABOUT THAT LIFE!'

I Can Believe it's K Butter:

Kendall Marshall managed to be much more than many pundits originally envisioned after donning the #5 jersey for two seasons in Chapel Hill. The DMV product was the first player to be offered a scholarship from Williams as a sophomore in high school. That faith in Marshall's passing ability & court vision led to quite a bit of success in Chapel Hill. Also, that skillset helped seal the deal with Harrison Barnes' announcement to join the Tar Heel family via Skype. (Duck! Coach K just threw a desk chair) Despite his success in Carolina blue, he's bounced around the NBA early on after being a lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. Marshall boasted his best output this season with the Lakers, after a stint in the D-League last season. At one point in February, he led the league in assists and finished averaging 8.0 ppg & 8.8 assists per game. Here's an example of his knack for dishing out dimes with 17 against the OKC Thunder:

Hoping Hairston Hoops: (and avoids Josh Gordon car swaps)

Oh, P.J. let's hope the league is exactly what you need to focus on actually playing basketball, rather than racking up headlines. At least, the Hornets were willing to trade for your sharp shooting skills, so there's a major plus on your side. This could be something to see in Charlotte if P.J. actually makes it to the point of reaching his potential. For now, he's a major question mark heading into his rookie campaign.

Laying down the Law(son):

Ty Lawson may be the most talented Tar Heel in the NBA right now. He's one of the best point guards in the league. In fact, he was asked how many PGs he thought were better than him on media day and he responded honestly, "One." He gave the nod to Russell Westbrook for his play a year ago. And to me, a Denver trade for Westbrook that involved Lawson & Faried would take Durant's Thunder team to the top of the Western Conference.

Marvelous Marvin:

The Marvin Williams NBA story is one that might not fit the mold of what many believed to be a 'superstar' player after the Atlanta Hawks selected the stretch 4, second overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. This may be true if it's compared against that criteria, but Williams has carved out a solid space in the league and will be leaned on to produce on the offensive end of the floor for the Hornets next season. Here's one of the greatest moments in the history of the UNC/Duke rivalry in the Dean Dome courtesy of Williams. Also, he's a national champion, so that helps with his basketball résumé.

Wayne's World:

See the story I posted earlier if you're looking for my thoughts on Ellington.

Oh no, LOOK! It's GOD-ZELLER:

Tyler Zeller is the optimal post player for a stable franchise looking for solid production in the paint. This was not the situation he faced during his time in Cleveland, so the move to the Celtics should boost his standing in the league. He's great at running the floor and is the perfect fit if you're looking for a 7-footer with a motor. The setbacks have been injury related, but Zeller should be ready to go for his new squad in the Boston Garden. His current career stat line of 5.7 ppg & 4.0 rebounds per game look to reach new heights in his third season.

Easy Ed Davis:

Davis ended his UNC career on a sour note after an uninspired run during the dismal 2010 season. The time he managed to have with the Raptors and Grizzlies didn't bode well from a playing time perspective. (See: Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph) Laker land looks like a prime spot for a big-time talent to finally put in the work ethic necessary to turn some heads in the Staples Center. He's saying exactly what the purple & gold faithful want to hear: “It’s the Lakers, man. It doesn’t getting any bigger than this with the history and legacy. That had a lot to do with it.”

Rootin'-Tootin' Raymond Felton:

Never forget that without Raymond Felton, who suffered a wrist injury to start the 2004 UNC season, the Tar Heels lost to Santa Clara. Of course, that same team won a national championship some five months later. Also, he showed in that championship game against Illinois PG Deron Williams that he was the toast of the class that season in college basketball. Felton's bounced around quite a bit and was essentially run out of the Big Apple after his dubious return to the Knicks. Now, he looks to be a veteran presence on a talented Mavericks roster with high hopes for the 2014-15 season with the additions of Tyson Chandler, Chandler Parsons & the return of Dirk & Monta Ellis.

Danny Green the Machine:

The small forward from North Babylon has made a BIG impact on the NBA. If you haven't heard, he's got quite the stroke from behind the arc and he's not half bad above the rim either. He's the poster boy for what the D-League can actually develop and the Spurs sure are enjoying the ride. This season, Green is going back to his roots and honoring his North Babylon hometown by rocking #14 once again. My apologies to Jesus Shuttlesworth for the video below.

Honorable mention: Tyler Hansbrough (Toronto Raptors); Brandan Wright (Dallas Mavericks); Rashad McCants (just kidding)

Also, I couldn't pass up the chance to discuss two of my favorite players in the above twitter graphic promoting NYK media day. J.R. Smith made the jump to the NBA in the last class prior to the one-and-done NCAA system kicking in. Despite his commitment to UNC, J.R. made a name for himself in the McDonald's All-American game with a dazzling display and from there, he was gone. As far as Iman Shumpert is concerned, Roy Williams recruited the hell out of the combo guard, but eventually lost out to...Georgia Tech. Yeah, that's quite the change of pace as far as recruiting choices are concerned. But still, these two epitomize explosiveness and potential headache all in one package. Obviously, talent blinds my eyes on occasion.

There's my Tar Heel NBA wrap-up for the Roy Williams era thus far. And as always, this is why I love sports today.

-ATF