By R.L. Bynum
Five former Tar Heels started in their debuts for new college programs on Monday, highlighted by a career-best game for Kentucky redshirt junior forward Teonni Key, while Oregon graduate guard Deja Kelly pulled off a unique doubleheader and Caleb Love had a big game in his final college season.
Seventeen of the 19 former UNC players at other schools played their openers on Monday.
Key had an impressive debut in the Wildcats’ 98–43 home win over USC Upstate with career-best totals of 14 points and five assists to go with nine rebounds, three blocks and a steal. That was the first game as head coach at Kentucky for former Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks.
Other former Tar Heels starting in their debuts with new schools were Vanderbilt wing Tyler Nickel, Akron forward James Okonkwo, Arizona guard Paulina Paris, N.C. State wing Dontrez Styles and UNCW forward Ali Zelaya.
In her first game at Oregon, Kelly started and nearly had a double-double in the first end of a versatile doubleheader to begin her fifth college season. After collecting 10 points and eight assists in the Ducks’ 93–63 home win over California Baptist, Kelly — who was 3 of 10 from the floor and 1 of 3 from 3-point range — was a sideline reporter for the Big Ten Network during its broadcast of the 91–76 Oregon men’s victory over UC Riverside.
Love only played 21 minutes in No. 10 Arizona’s 93–64 win but had 17 points, three 3-pointers and six assists and was +29 for the game.
Earlier in the day, in Arizona’s 73–54 women’s victory over UT Arlington, Paris played 23 minutes in her Wildcats debut, collecting nine points, a rebound and a block. She was 3 of 9 from the floor and missed all three 3-point attempts.
Nickel scored 14 points and three 3-pointers in Vanderbilt’s 102–63 blowout of Maryland Eastern Shore.
In N.C. State’s 97–66 home win over USC Upstate, Styles played nine minutes, collecting nine points, two rebounds and two blocks.
Ahead of her homecoming game at No. 15 UNC at 7 p.m. Thursday (ESPN3), Zelaya debuted for UNCW in a 99–57 loss at Virginia Tech. In 26 minutes, she collected nine points, four assists, one rebound and one block.
Okonkwo’s Akron team lost 80–75 in overtime at Arkansas State. In 22 minutes, he had five points, 12 rebounds and three steals.
Kennedy Todd-Williams’ No. 20 Ole Miss team gave No. 3 USC a good game in Paris before losing 68–66. Todd-Williams finished with eight points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals but battled foul trouble with four fouls.
Todd-Williams, who had a rough shooting game, going 2 of 18 and missing all five 3-point attempts, had the ball on the perimeter on the Rebels’ final play but had the ball stripped from her.
Destiny Adams had 14 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in Rutgers’ 85–70 home win Monday over Manhattan.
Fifth-year forward Anya Poole didn’t start in her Clemson debut, a 78–44 home victory over Jackson State. In 13 minutes, she had six points, four rebounds, two blocks and an assist and was +10.
D’Marco Dunn came off the bench to score 12 points and two 3-pointers in 16 minutes, with three steals and two rebounds in Penn State’s 108–66 win over Binghamton. Puff Johnson started and had five points, four rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes.
Rylee Grays came off the bench in Virginia’s 104–68 home victory over American. In 18 scoreless minutes, she missed both shots and had three rebounds.
Redshirt sophomore Will Shaver didn’t play for UAB in the Blazers’ 67–62 win over Vermont.
Kerwin Walton starts his fifth college season Tuesday at 8 p.m. (ESPN+) when Texas Tech hosts Bethune-Cookman.
Dawson Garcia’s senior season begins Wednesday at 8 p.m. as Minnesota is at home against Oral Roberts.
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting point guard ahead of sophomore L.J. Cason
Season statistics — 21 games, 21 starts, 10.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 42.0 3P%, 69.0 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.6 turnovers
Team record: 20–1, 10–1 Big Ten; Rank: No. 3
Tuesday: 75–72 win vs. No. 5 Nebraska — Started; 32:55, 7 points, 2–8 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 fouls, 8 turnovers, 2 steals, +9
Friday: 83–71 win at No. 7 Michigan State — Started; 30:19, 17 points, 5–8 FG, 3–5 3 FG, 4–5 FT, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, +4
Next game — 6:30 Thursday vs. Penn State, FS1
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 22 games, 22 starts, 9.5 points, 40.5 FG%, 39.6 3P%, 87.2 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Team record: 16–7, 3–6 SEC
Thursday: 77–62 win at No. 15 Tennessee — Started; 32 minutes, 15 points, 4–9 FG, 3–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 2 turnovers, 3 steals, +18
Sunday: 88–80 loss vs. Missouri — Started; 32 minutes, 35 minutes, 18 points, 6–15 FG, 6–13 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 fouls, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal
Next game — 6:30 Thursday at No. 2 South Carolina, SEC Network
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 21 games, 2.1 points, 45.5 FG%, 2–5 3FG, 75.9 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals
Team record: 15–6, 7–2 American
Tuesday: 77–48 win vs. Florida Atlantic — 16 minutes, 6 points, 1–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 1 block
Saturday: 74–69 2 OT win vs. Memphis — 8 minutes, 0–1 FG
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wichita State, ESPN+
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 195 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter, sharing time in a point-guard-by-committee mix
Season statistics — 21 games, 14 starts, 11.1 points, 44.4 FG%, 37.2 3P%, 90.7 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 16–5, 9–1 Big East; Rank: No. 25
Wednesday: 92–70 win vs. Butler — Started; 25 minutes, team-high 18 points, 5–11 FG, 3–6 3FG, 5–5 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, 1 turnover, +19
Next game — 8 p.m. Tuesday at DePaul, Peacock
Puff Johnson, Ohio State
6–8, 190 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Reserve
Team record: 14–7, 6–5 Big Ten
Season statistics — 3 games, 2.3 points, 40.0 FG%, 1–2 3FG, 2–3 FT, 1.7 rebounds
Monday: 84–78 win vs. Penn State — 13 minutes, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover
Saturday: 92–82 loss at Wisconsin — 12 minutes, 5 points, 1–2 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover
Next game — 8:30 Thursday at Maryland, FS1
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 15 games, 15 starts, 11.3 points, 53.6 FG%, 1–12 3FG, 66.7 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 18–5, 5–4 SEC; Rank: No. 16
Sunday: 93–73 win at Arkansas — Started; 32:08, 15 points, 5–12 FG, 5–10 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 1 block, +14
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center
Season statistics — 22 games, 22 starts, 13.5 points, 68.2 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 73.4 FT%, 7.0 rebounds
Team record: 16–6, 7–2 ACC
Tuesday: 88–68 win vs. Syracuse — Started; 26:14, 18 points, 8–8 FG, 2–2 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 assists, +9
Saturday: 96–78 win at Wake Forest — Started; 28:10, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, +12
Next game — 9 p.m. Tuesday at SMU, ESPN2
Plays UNC —7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, ESPN or ESPN2
Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing
6–7, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 22 games, 22 starts, 16.6 points, 50.7 FG%, 45.0 3P%, 83.9 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Team record: 19–3, 6–3 SEC: Rank: No. 18
Tuesday: 80–55 win vs. Kentucky — Started, 28:20, 19 points, 7–14 FG, 2–6 3FG, 3–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 1 block, +14
Saturday: 71–68 win vs. Ole Miss — Started, 28:15, 5 points, 2–7 FG, 1–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, +2
Next game — 3:30 Saturday vs. Oklahoma, SEC Network
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 19 games, 11 starts, 9.6 points, 39.7 FG%, 23.6 3P%, 69.7 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 8–14, 1–9 ACC
Thursday: 83–54 loss at Clemson — Didn’t start; 21 minutes, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 1 steal, -19
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Wake Forest, ACCN Extra
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Carmichael Arena, ACCN
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve minutes
Season statistics — 21 games, 3.0 points, 51.1 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 58.8 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 15 assists, 9 blocks, 4 steals
Team record: 11–12, 4–6 Southern Conference
Thursday: 78–73 loss at Furman — 12 minutes, 4 points, 2–2 FG, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Sunday: 88–74 win at Western Carolina — 8 minutes, 4 points, 1–2 FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 fouls, 1 assist, 2 turnovers
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. The Citadel, ESPN+
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 21 games, 21 starts, 19.9 points, 50.0 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Team record: 10–12, 3–8 Big Ten
Wednesday: 67–63 loss at Wisconsin — Missed game with an ankle injury suffered in the Jan. 24 loss to Nebraska
Sunday: 77–75 loss at Penn State — 28 minutes, 17 points, 3–8 FG, 0–4 3FG, 11–12 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. No. 7 Michigan State, Big Ten Network
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup center
Season statistics — 22 games, 3 starts, 8.9 points, 58.0 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 72.3 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 19–3, 6–3 SEC: Rank: No. 18
Tuesday: 80–55 win vs. Kentucky — Started; 16:45, 0 points, 0–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 9 rebounds, 5 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 block, +11
Saturday: 71–68 win vs. Ole Miss — Started, 16:21, 4 points, 1–1 FG, 2–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, -2
Next game — 3:30 Saturday vs. Oklahoma, SEC Network
Photo via @KentuckyWBB
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