By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — Change was apparent all around Friday night at Live Action, as was the swagger of freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau.
The annual preseason spotlight on UNC’s men’s and women’s basketball teams at the Smith Center was all new to seven of Coach Hubert Davis’ players (five transfers and two freshmen) and eight of Coach Courtney Banghart’s players (three transfers and five freshmen).
In the 24-minute scrimmages, both teams showed that they’ll accelerate the tempo compared to last season, and some newcomers will play big roles. Two centers new to the programs were impressive — freshman Zayden High (eight first-half points) and Boston College transfer center Maria Gakdeng (game-high 14 points).
But Cadeau, the Blue team’s point guard, stole the show at the end of the men’s scrimmage as he tried to rally his team. He scored 10 consecutive points in the last two minutes, including a pair of top-of-the-key 3-pointers, on his way to a game-high 16. But RJ Davis, who scored 13, made all four free-throw attempts in the last 25.9 seconds as his White team held on for a 46–44 win.
Armando Bacot, who scored 15 points, tried to tie the game in the final seconds but couldn’t score inside.
“One of the things that I’m excited about tonight is I get to see this every day. You guys get to see what I’m talking about, how they play the game of basketball together,” Coach Davis told the crowd.
Not only was there more running in transition for the men’s team, but fans saw the return of the secondary break that was absent last season, while the Tar Heels showed that they’ll be very athletic. And Cadeau displayed the ability to find open space on the floor to be a creator.
The Blue starters were Bacot, Brown transfer Paxson Wojcik, Louisville transfer Jae’Lyn Withers, walk-on Creighton Lebo and Cadeau. The White team, which led 29–20 at halftime, countered with Davis, Notre Dame transfer Cormac Ryan, Stanford transfer Harrison Ingram and High.
Seth Trimble is dealing with an left ankle injury and didn’t participate.
In the women’s scrimmage, Gakdeng showed she will be a force inside, scoring eight of her 14 points in the third quarter as her team, wearing navy blue jerseys, won 43–30. Deja Kelly scored all 12 of her points for the winning team in the first half.
Paulina Paris and Alyssa Ustby led the way for the team wearing Carolina blue jerseys with eight points, with Kayla McPherson adding five.
“I’m excited about the team,” Banghart told the crowd. “I’m excited about the energy you guys bring to our program. We’ve worked really hard to get this program where it is.”
UNC’s women have plenty of lead guards, with Kelly playing point for the navy blue team and Paris holding that spot for the Carolina blue team, which used a male practice player when McPherson and Poole sat out the fourth quarter.
Not playing in the women’s scrimmage in addition to the redshirting Ciera Toomey and Laila Hull was freshman Reniya Kelly.
There was no dancing or skits for the second straight year, except for a few moves the players showed off when they were introduced. Last year, there was a 3-point shooting contest, but this year, there was no other basketball other than the scrimmages.
None of the players or coaches on either team spoke to the media afterward.
NOTES — Eric Montross, who is going through a cancer battle, delivered a message via video encouraging fans to support causes that help fight cancer and to support people they know who are fighting cancer. He’s been an analyst on the Tar Heel Sports Network radio crew for years but announced that he won’t be part of the broadcasts this season. In Montross’ honor, the UNC men’s basketball program donated $25,000 to UNC Children’s Hospital. … Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson, members of the 2017 national championship team, spoke to the crowd before the men’s scrimmage. Asked if he heard the crowds at home games, Pinson said, “Yeah. When I shot a 3, everybody was like ‘Oh no!’ But I’m better now. I’m knocking ’em down.” … Brian McLaughlin, better known as B Daht, was the Live Action host. … The turnout was lighter than previous years for the event formerly known as Late Night, with only a few dozen fans in the upper arena. … Several women’s players wore sunglasses during introductions. … Deja Kelly again wore a tiara as she was introduced. … Ustby appeared to be playing a keyboard before she ran out after her name was announced.
UNC men’s schedule
| Date | Month/day | Time | Opponent/event | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | |||||
| 27 | Friday | 7:30 | St. Augustine’s (exhibition) | Home | ESPN3 |
| November | |||||
| 6 | Monday | 7 p.m. | Radford | Home | ACCN |
| 12 | Sunday | 2 p.m. | Lehigh | Home | ACCN |
| 17 | Friday | 8 p.m. | UC Riverside | Home | ACCN |
| Battle 4 Atlantis | |||||
| 22 | Wednesday | Noon | Northern Iowa | Bahamas | ESPN |
| 23 | Thursday | Noon or 5 | Villanova or Texas Tech | Bahamas | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 24 | Friday | 1, 3:30, 6 or 8:30 | Michigan, Memphis, Arkansas or Stanford | Bahamas | |
| ACC/SEC Challenge | |||||
| 29 | Wednesday | 7:15 | Tennessee | Home | ESPN |
| December | |||||
| 2 | Saturday | 2 p.m. | Florida State | Home | ACCN |
| Jimmy V Classic | |||||
| 5 | Tuesday | 9 p.m. | Connecticut | Madison Square Garden | ESPN |
| CBS Sports Classic | |||||
| 16 | Saturday | 5:30 | Kentucky | Atlanta | CBS |
| Jumpman Invitational | |||||
| 20 | Wednesday | 9 p.m. | Oklahoma | Charlotte | ESPN |
| 29 | Friday | 8 p.m. | Charleston Southern | Home | ACCN |
| January | |||||
| 2 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| 6 | Saturday | Clemson | Clemson | ESPN2 | |
| 10 | Wednesday | 8 p.m. | N.C. State | Raleigh | ESPN |
| 13 | Saturday | 1 p.m. | Syracuse | Chapel Hill | ACCN |
| 17 | Wednesday | 9 p.m. | Louisville | Chapel Hill | ACCN |
| 20 | Saturday | 2:15 | Boston College | Chestnut Hill | CW |
| 22 | Monday | 7 p.m. | Wake Forest | Chapel Hill | ESPN |
| 27 | Saturday | 2 p.m. | Florida State | Tallahassee | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 30 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | Georgia Tech | Atlanta | ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| February | |||||
| 3 | Saturday | 6:30 | Duke | Chapel Hill | ESPN |
| 6 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | Clemson | Chapel Hill | ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| 10 | Saturday | 4 p.m. | Miami | Coral Gables | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 13 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | Syracuse | Syracuse | ACCN |
| 17 | Saturday | 2 p.m. | Virginia Tech | Chapel Hill | ACCN |
| 24 | Saturday | 2 or 4 | Virginia | Charlottesville | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 26 | Monday | 7 p.m. | Miami | Chapel Hill | ESPN |
| March | |||||
| 2 | Saturday | 4 p.m. | N.C. State | Chapel Hill | ESPN |
| 5 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | Notre Dame | Chapel Hill | ACCN |
| 9 | Saturday | 6:30 | Duke | Durham | ESPN |
| 12-16 | Tuesday- Saturday | ACC tournament | Washington |
UNC men’s roster
| No. | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Returnees | | | |
| 4 | Sr. | RJ Davis | PG | 6–0 | 180 |
| 7 | Soph. | Seth Trimble | PG | 6–3 | 195 |
| 13 | Soph. | Jalen Washington | 4 | 6–10 | 230 |
| 5 | 5th year | Armando Bacot | 5 | 6–11 | 240 |
| Transfer newcomers | |||||
| 3 | 5th year | Cormac Ryan (Notre Dame) | 3 | 6–5 | 195 |
| 8 | 5th year | Paxton Wojcik (Brown) | 3 | 6–5 | 195 |
| 55 | Junior | Harrison Ingram (Stanford) | 3 | 6–7 | 235 |
| 32 | Junior | James Okonkwo (West Virginia) | 4 | 6–8 | 240 |
| 24 | Senior | Jae’Lyn Withers (Louisville) | 4 | 6–9 | 215 |
| ESPN rank | Freshmen | ||||
| 2 | 10 (Class of 2024) | Elliot Cadeau (5 star) | PG | 6–1 | 180 |
| 1 | 64 (Class of 2023 | Zayden High (4 star) | 4 | 6–9 | 225 |
| Walk-ons | |||||
| 14 | Creighton Lebo | PG | 6–1 | 180 | |
| 22 | Rob Landry | 2 | 6–4 | 190 | |
| 34 | Dewe Farris | 4 | 6–7 | 210 | |
| | | Eligibility over | | | |
| | Leaky Black | 3 | 6–9 | 205 | |
| | Pete Nance | 4 | 6–11 | 230 | |
| Players who transferred out | |||||
| Caleb Love (Arizona) | 2 | 6–4 | 200 | ||
| D’Marco Dunn (Penn State) | 3 | 6–5 | 190 | ||
| Dontrez Styles (Georgetown) | 4 | 6–6 | 210 | ||
| Tyler Nickel (Va. Tech) | 3 | 6–7 | 220 | ||
| Justin McKoy (Hawaii) | 4 | 6–8 | 220 | ||
| Puff Johnson (Penn State) | 3 | 6–8 | 200 | ||
| Will Shaver (UAB) | 5 | 6–10 | 260 | ||
| ESPN rank | 2024–25 freshman class | ||||
| 12 | Drake Powell (5 star) | 2 | 6–5 | 185 | |
| 17 | Ian Jackson (5 star) | 2 | 6–4 | 180 | |
| 68 | James Brown (4 star) | 5 | 6–8 | 225 |
UNC women’s schedule
| Date | Day/month | Time | Opponent/event | Location | TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | ||||||
| 8 | Wednesday | 7 p.m. | Gardner-Webb | Home | ESPN3 | |
| 12 | Sunday | 6 p.m. | Davidson | Home | ACCN | |
| 15 | Wednesday | 11 a.m. | Hampton | Home | ESPN3 | |
| 18 | Saturday | 3 p.m. | Elon | Home | ESPN3 | |
| Gulf Coast Showcase | ||||||
| 24 | Friday | 1:30 | Vermont | Estero, Fla. | FloHoops | |
| 25 | Saturday | 11 a.m. or 5 p.m. | Kansas State or Western Kentucky | Estero, Fla. | FloHoops | |
| 26 | Sunday | 11 a.m., 5 p.m. or 7:30 | Iowa, Purdue Fort Wayne, Florida Gulf Coast or Delaware | Estero, Fla. | FloHoops | |
| ACC/SEC Challenge | ||||||
| 30 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | South Carolina | Home | ESPN | |
| December | ||||||
| 6 | Wednesday | 7 p.m. | UNC Greensboro | Home | ESPN3 | |
| Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase | ||||||
| 10 | Sunday | 5 p.m. | Connecticut | Uncasville, Conn. | TBA | |
| ——————— | ||||||
| 15 | Friday | 7 p.m. | Western Carolina | Home | ESPN3 | |
| Jumpman Invitational | ||||||
| 19 | Tuesday | 6:30 | Oklahoma | Charlotte | TBA | |
| ACC season | ||||||
| 31 | Sunday | Noon | Clemson | Chapel Hill | CW | |
| January | ||||||
| 4 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | Syracuse | Chapel Hill | ESPN3 | |
| 7 | Sunday | 5 p.m. | Notre Dame | South Bend | ESPN2 | |
| 11 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | Florida State | Tallahassee | ESPN3 | |
| 14 | Sunday | 4 p.m. | Virginia | Chapel Hill | ACCN | |
| 18 | Thursday | 4 p.m. | Georgia Tech | Atlanta | ACCN | |
| 21 | Sunday | 2 p.m. | Louisville | Chapel Hill | ACCN | |
| 25 | Thursday | 8 p.m. | Miami | Chapel Hill | ACCN | |
| 28 | Sunday | Noon | Virginia | Charlottesville | CW | |
| February | ||||||
| 1 | Thursday | 8 p.m. | N.C. State | Raleigh | ACCN | |
| 4 | Sunday | Noon | Virginia Tech | Chapel Hill | ESPN2 | |
| 11 | Sunday | 2 p.m. | Duke | Durham | ACCN | |
| 15 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | Pittsburgh | Chapel Hill | ESPN3 | |
| 18 | Sunday | 6 p.m. | Wake Forest | Winston-Salem | ||
| 22 | Thursday | 8 p.m. | N.C. State | Chapel Hill | ACCN | |
| 25 | Sunday | 2 p.m. | Virginia Tech | Blacksburg | ACCN | |
| 29 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | Boston College | Chestnut Hill | ESPN3 | |
| March | ||||||
| 3 | Sunday | 3:30 | Duke | Chapel Hill | ESPN2 | |
| 6–10 | Wed.-Sun. | ACC tournament | Greensboro |
UNC women’s roster
| Year | No. | Returning players | Pos. | Height | |
| RS Soph. | 11 | Kayla McPherson | PG | 5–8 | |
| Senior | 25 | Deja Kelly (co-captain) | PG | 5–8 | |
| Soph. | 2 | Paulina Paris | PG | 5–9 | |
| Senior | 1 | Alyssa Ustby (co-captain) | F | 6–1 | |
| Senior | 31 | Anya Poole | F | 6–2 | |
| RS Soph. | 13 | Teonni Key | F | 6–4 | |
| Senior | 0 | Alexandra Zelaya | F | 6–4 | |
| Year | No. | Transfer newcomers | |||
| Soph. | 24 | Indya Nivar (Stanford) | G | 5–10 | |
| Senior | 20 | Lexi Donarski (Iowa State) | G | 6–0 | |
| Junior | 5 | Maria Gakdeng (Boston College) | C | 6–3 | |
| ESPN rank | No. | Freshmen | Pos. | Height | |
| 15 | Sydney Barker (walk-on) | PG | 5–6 | ||
| 30th | 10 | Reniya Kelly (4 star; Alabama POY) | PG | 5–7 | |
| 4 | Laila Hull (Indiana POY) Will redshirt this season | W | 6–1 | ||
| 90th | 22 | RyLee Grays (4 star; Texas POY | F | 6–3 | |
| 4th | 21 | Ciera Toomey (5 star; Pa. POY) Will redshirt this season | F | 6–4 | |
| ESPN rank | Class of 2024 | ||||
| 29th | Blanca Thomas (5 star) | C | 6–5 | ||
| 68th | Jordan Zubich (4 star) | G | 5–11 | ||
| ESPN rank | Class of 2025 | ||||
| 22nd | Lanie Grant (5 star) | G | 5–9 | ||
| College careers over | Pos. | Height | |||
| Eva Hodgson | PG | 5–10 | |||
| Ariel Young | W | 6–1 | |||
| Malu Tshitenge | F | 6–3 | |||
| Players who transferred out | |||||
| Kennedy Todd-Williams (Ole Miss) | W | 6–0 | |||
| Destiny Adams (Rutgers) | F | 6–3 |
Photo via @UNC_Basketball
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