By R.L. Bynum
All but one of the 17 former Tar Heels playing with other college programs will open their seasons on Monday, but Kennedy Todd-Williams easily has the most interesting opener. Meanwhile, Dontrez Styles is one of three former UNC players who will debut Monday with their third school.
Todd-Williams’ No. 20 Ole Miss team, coming off a 24–9 season, will be in Paris for a noon ET Monday game against No. 3 Southern Cal (ESPN), while most others don’t have matchups quite as compelling.
After one season at Georgetown, Styles has joined an N.C. State program that lost many key players from last year’s team that won the ACC Tournament and made the Final Four.
The Wolfpack, which faces USC Upstate at 7 p.m. Monday (ESPN3), eked out a 79–75 exhibition home win Wednesday over Lees-McRae. Styles, a senior, started and collected nine points and nine rebounds but was 1 of 6 from the floor.
Also debuting at their third school on Monday are junior Tyler Nickel at Vanderbilt and senior James Okonkwo at Akron.
Nickel, who played last season at Virginia Tech, and the Commodores play Maryland Eastern Shore at 6 p.m. Okonkwo, who began his career at West Virginia, and the Zips visit Arkansas State at 8 p.m. (ESPN+).
Three former UNC women’s players open their fifth and final college seasons at new schools on Monday: Deja Kelly at Oregon, Anya Poole at Clemson and Ali Zelaya at UNCW.
Kelly’s Ducks host California Baptist at 7 p.m. In Oregon’s 110–21 Friday home exhibition win over Warner Pacific, Kelly only played 10 minutes and had six points and two steals.
Poole’s Tigers host Jackson State at 2:30 (ESPN3).
Zelaya’s Seahawks visit Virginia Tech at 5 p.m. (ESPN3) before returning to UNC to face the Tar Heels at 7 p.m. Thursday (ESPN3).
In other men’s openers on Monday:
— Senior D’Marco Dunn and fifth-year player Puff Johnson will try to start a turnaround season for Penn State, which finished 16–17 last season, with a 7:30 home game against Binghamton. Dunn scored 13 points and three 3-pointers in the Nittany Lions’ 79–54 home exhibition win on Oct. 25 against Lafayette.
— Caleb Love begins his fifth and final college season at 10 p.m. ET in No. 10 Arizona’s home game against Canisius (ESPN+). The Wildcats rolled to a pair of home exhibition wins, with Love scoring 10 points in a 117–54 win on Oct. 21 over Eastern New Mexico and collecting nine points, three assists and three steals in a 113–64 Oct. 28 victory over Point Loma.
—Kerwin Walton opens his fifth and final college season when Texas Tech hosts Bethune-Cookman at 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
— After playing sparingly in his first season at UAB last season, redshirt sophomore Will Shaver’s season starts at 7:30 against Vermont (ESPN+). If the Blazers’ 88–79 exhibition win on Oct. 27 at Western Kentucky is any indication, his playing time might not be much better. Shaver was scoreless with one rebound and two fouls in four minutes.
Senior Dawson Garcia and Minnesota open at 8 p.m. Wednesday at home against Oral Roberts after winning two home exhibition games. Garcia had 15 points and five rebounds in a 90–65 Oct. 19 win over Bemidji State, then had 11 points and five rebounds in a 79–57 Oct. 29 victory over Hamline.
In other women’s openers on Monday:
— Senior Destiny Adams hopes for better fortunes at Rutgers after an 8–24 record a season ago. The Scarlet Knights host Manhattan at 7 p.m. In Rutgers’ 101–48 home exhibition win on Oct. 27 against Caldwell, Adams played a productive 23 minutes with 24 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and a block—Rylee Grays begins her Virginia career at 7 p.m. against American (ESPN3).
— Redshirt junior Teonni Key starts her Kentucky career with a 5 p.m. home game against USC Upstate.
— Junior guard Paulina Paris starts her Arizona career at 6 p.m. against Texas Arlington (ESPN+). She started both of the Wildcats’ home exhibition victories, collecting 13 points, three assists, four steals and two rebounds in an 84–59 on Oct. 25 win over West Texas A&M and nine points, four assists and three rebounds in an 82–53 on Oct. 29 victory over Cal State LA.
Checking in on 17 former Heels
Destiny Adams, Rutgers forward
6–3 | Senior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 32 games, 32 starts, 15.6 points, 50.1 FG%, 1–8 3FG, 68.3 FT%, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 of a block for a team that finished 8–24
101–48 exhibition win Oct. 27 vs. Caldwell — Started; 23 minutes, 24 points, 8–17 FG< 0–2 3FG, 8–14 FT, 12 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 1 turnovers, 1 block, 5 steals
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Manhattan
D’Marco Dunn, Penn State guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Senior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 33 games, 12 starts; 6.8 points, 39.5 FG%, 36.6 3P%, 73.8 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist for a team that went 16–17
79–64 exhibition win Oct. 25 vs. Lafayette — No box score available; 13 points, 3–3 3FG
Season opener — 7:30 Monday vs. Binghamton
Dawson Garcia, Minnesota forward
6–11, 234 pounds | Senior | UNC 2020–21 (part of 1 season)
Statistics last season — 31 games, 31 starts; 17.6 points (led team), 48.6 FG%, 31.9 3P%, 80.2 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 block for a team that finished 19–15
90–65 home exhibition win Oct. 19 vs. Bemidji State — Started; 22 minutes, 15 points, 5–10 FG, 0–2 3FG, 5–5 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 blocks
79–57 home exhibition win Oct. 29 vs. Hamline — Started; 16 minutes, 11 points, 4–5 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists
Season opener — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Oral Roberts
RyLee Grays, Virginia forward
6–4 | Sophomore | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 5 games, 18 minutes, 7 points, 2 of 3 FGs, 3 of 4 FTs, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Season opener — 7 p.m. Nov. 4 vs. American (6 p.m. Oct. 31 exhibition vs. Barton College; the Cavaliers visit UNC in the regular-season finale for both teams at 2 p.m. March 2, The CW)
Puff Johnson, Penn State wing
6–8, 205 pounds | Fifth season | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Statistics last season — 29 games, 12 starts; 7.3 points, 42.2 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 78.5 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 0.7 of a steal
79–64 exhibition win Oct. 25 vs. Lafayette — No box score available; hit a 3-pointer
Season opener — 7:30 Monday vs. Binghamton
Deja Kelly, Oregon guard
5–8 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–24 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.3 points, 34.6 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 69.4 FT%, 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals
110–21 exhibition win Friday vs. Warner Pacific — Started; 10 minutes 2–4 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 steals, +22
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday vs. California Baptist
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS junior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 23 games, 218 minutes, 63 points, 47.2 FG%, 0 of 3 3Ps, 76.5 FT%, 57 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, 13 blocks
Season opener — 5 p.m. Monday vs. USC Upstate (The Wildcats visit UNC at 5 p.m. Dec. 4, ESPN2)
Caleb Love, Arizona guard
6–4, 205 pounds | Fifth season | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Statistics last season — 35 games, 35 starts; 18.1 points (led team), 41.8 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 83.6 FT%, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals for a team that went 27–9 and made the Sweet 16
117–54 home exhibition win Oct. 21 vs. Eastern New Mexico — Started; 19 minutes, 10 points, 4–9 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal
113–64 home exhibition win Oct. 28 vs. Point Loma — Started; 24 minutes, 9 points, 4–9 FG, 1–5 3FG, 0–1 FT, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 3 steals
Season opener — 10 p.m. Monday vs. Canisius, ESPN+
Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing
6–7, 220 pounds | Junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season (Virginia Tech) — 34 games, 7 starts; 8.8 points, 43.8 FG%, 39.9 3P%, 82.0 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists for a Hokies team that finished 19–15
Season opener — 6 p.m. Monday vs. Maryland Eastern Shore
James Okonkwo, Akron forward
6–8, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 15 games, 43 minutes, 15 points, 5 of 9 FGs, 5 of 5 FTs, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks
Season opener — 8 p.m. Monday at Arkansas State, ESPN+
Paulina Paris, Arizona guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 15 games, 8 starts, 304 minutes, 88 points, 36.5 FG%, 30.2 3P%, 83.3 FT%, 23 rebounds, 22 assists, 8 steals
84–59 home exhibition win Oct. 25 vs. West Texas A&M — Started; 23 minutes, 13 points, 5–10 FG, 3–6 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 4 steals
82–53 home exhibition win Oct. 29 vs. Cal State LA — Started; 18 minutes, 9 points, 3–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 4 assists, 1 steal
Season opener — 6 p.m. Monday vs. Texas Arlington, ESPN+
Anya Poole, Clemson forward
6–2 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–24 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 30 games, 373 minutes, 84 points, 46.4 FG%, 64.4 FT%, 96 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 steals, 17 blocks
Season opener — 2:30 Monday vs. Jackson State, ESPN3 (UNC visits Clemson at 2 p.m. Feb. 9, ESPN3)
Will Shaver, UAB center
6–10, 260 pounds | Redshirt sophomore | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 18 games, 87 minutes, 20 points, 6–17 FG, 0–2 3FG, 8–16 FT, 18 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal for a team that finished 23–12
88–79 exhibition win Oct. 27 at Western Kentucky — 4 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 2 fouls
Season opener — 7:30 Monday vs. Vermont, ESPN+
Dontrez Styles, N.C. State wing
6–6, 210 pounds | Senior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (Georgetown) — 32 games, 32 starts, 12.8 points, 43.0 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 77.6 FT%, 5.8 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 0.6 of a block for a team that finished 9–23
79–75 Wednesday home exhibition win vs. Lees-McRae — Started; 25 minutes, 9 points, 1–6 FG, 0–3 3FG, 7–10 FT, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 1 steal, +3
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday vs. USC Upstate, ESPN3 (7 p.m. Oct. 30 exhibition vs. Lees-McRae; the Wolfpack hosts UNC at 4 p.m. Jan. 11, ACCN, and visits Carolina at 7 p.m. Feb. 19, ESPN or ESPN2)
Kennedy Todd-Williams, Ole Miss guard
6–0 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Statistics last season — 33 games, 25 starts; 10.6 points, 38.4 FG%, 26.7 3PFG%, 78.0 FT%, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals for a team that finished 24–9
114–29 Oct. 28 home exhibition win vs. Christian Brothers — Started; 20 minutes, 11 points, 4–9 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 4 steals, +47
Season opener — Noon Monday vs. USC in Paris, ESPN (Ole Miss visits N.C. State at 7 p.m. Dec. 5, ESPN2)
Kerwin Walton, Texas Tech guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Fifth season | UNC 2020–22 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season— 32 games, 25 starts, 8.4 points, 49.5 FG%, 47.0 3P%, 72.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist for a team that finished 23–11
Season opener — 8 p.m. Monday vs. Bethune-Cookman, ESPN+
Ali Zelaya, UNCW forward
6–4 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–24 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 21 games, 196 minutes, 44 points, 33.3 FG%, 35.3 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 22 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 4 blocks
Season opener — 5 p.m. Monday at Virginia Tech, ESPN3 (Seahawks visit UNC at 7 p.m. Nov. 7, ESPN3)
Photo via @OregonWBB
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