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.
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
85–79 Monday win vs. Manhattan — Started; 24 minutes, 14 points, 3–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 7–8 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 fouls, 4 turnovers, 1 block, 3 steals, +7
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Cornell
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
108–66 win Monday vs. Binghamton — Didn’t start; 16 minutes, 12 points, 4–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 steals, +11
Next game — 6 p.m. Friday vs. UMBC
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
104–68 win vs. American — Didn’t start; 18 minutes, 0 points, 0–2 FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +9
Next game — 9 p.m. Friday at Oklahoma, SEC Network
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
108–66 win Monday vs. Binghamton — Started; 23 minutes, 5 points, 2–5 FG, 1–2 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 2 blocks, +21
Next game — 6 p.m. Friday vs. UMBC
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
93–63 Monday win vs. California Baptist — Started; 25 minutes, 10 points, 3–10 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3–4 FT, 8 assists, 1 foul, 1 turnover, +25
Next game — 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Nevada
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
98–43 win vs. USC Upstate — Started; 26 minutes, 14 points (career-high), 6–11 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–3 FT, 9 rebounds, 5 assists (career-high), 4 fouls, 3 blocks, 1 steal, +36
Next game — 6 p.m. Thursday vs. Northern Kentucky
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
93–64 Monday win vs. Canisius — Started; 21 minutes, 17 points, 7–15 FG, 3–8 3FG, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, +29
Next game — 4 p.m. Saturday vs. Old Dominion, 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
102–63 Monday win vs. Maryland Eastern Shore — Started; 24 minutes, 14 points, 4–8 FG, 3–7 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal, +25
Next game — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Southeast Missouri.
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
80–75 Monday OT loss at Arkansas State — Started; 22 minutes, 5 points, 2–5 FG, 1–2 FT, 12 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 steals, -8
Next game — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Ohio Wesleyan
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
73–54 win vs. UT Arlington — Started; 23 minutes, 9 points, 3–9 FG, 0–3 3FG, 1 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 block, +2
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Tarleton State, 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
78–44 home Monday win vs. Jackson State — Didn’t start; 13 minutes, 6 points, 3–5 FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, +10
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. N.C. Central, 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
67–62 win vs. Vermont — Didn’t play
Next game — 7:30 Thursday at Southern Miss, 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
97–66 Monday win vs. USC Upstate — Started; 14 minutes, 9 points, 4–6 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 blocks, +4
Next game — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Presbyterian
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
68–66 Monday loss to No. 3 Southern Cal in Paris — Started; 36 minutes, 8 points, 2–18 FG, 0–5 3FG, 4–6 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 fouls, 2 steals, +1
Next game — 3 p.m. Sunday vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
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. Tuesday 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
99–57 Monday loss at Virginia Tech — Started; 26 minutes, 9 points, 4–10 FG, 1–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 2 fouls, 4 turnovers, 1 block, -26
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday at North Carolina, ESPN3
Photo via @KentuckyWBB
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