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 — 23 games, 23 starts, 9.9 points, 43.6 FG%, 39.6 3P%, 69.0 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Team record: 22–1, 11–1 Big Ten; Rank: No. 3
Thursday: 110–69 win vs. Penn State — Started; 23 minutes, 7 points, 3–9 FG, 1–6 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 8 assists
Sunday: 82–61 win at Ohio State — Started; 20 minutes, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 fouls, 6 assists
Next game — 8:30 Wednesday at Northwestern, Big Ten Network
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 23 games, 23 starts, 9.1 points, 39.4 FG%, 38.2 3P%, 87.5 FT%, 2.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Team record: 16–8, 3–7 SEC
Thursday: 88–45 loss at No. 3 South Carolina — Started; 19:58, 3 points, 1–7 FG, 0–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 1 turnovers, -28
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Georgia
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 23 games, 2.1 points, 42.9 FG%, 3–8 3FG, 75.9 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals
Team record: 16–7, 8–3 American
Tuesday: 75–65 win at Wichita State — 16 minutes, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 turnovers
Saturday: 66–47 loss vs UTSA — 15 minutes, 3 points, 1–3 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday at South Florida, 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 — 23 games, 16 starts, 10.9 points, 43.1 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 89.8 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 18–5, 11–1 Big East; Rank: No. 17
Friday: 81–72 win vs. No. 3 UConn — Started; 14 minutes, 8 points, 2–6 FG, 0–2 3FG, 4–4 FT, 1 rebound, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 1 steal (was on bench for final 8:56)
Next game — 6:30 Monday vs. Xavier, FS1
Puff Johnson, Ohio State
6–8, 190 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Reserve
Team record: 15–8, 7–6 Big Ten
Season statistics — 3 games, 2.3 points, 40.0 FG%, 1–2 3FG, 2–3 FT, 1.7 rebounds
Thursday: 82–62 win at Maryland and Sunday: 82–61 loss vs. No. 3 Michigan— Didn’t play, suffered injury in practice that’s not expected to be long-term
Next game — 6:30 Wednesday vs. USC
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 16 games, 16 starts, 11.3 points, 55.7 FG%, 1–12 3FG, 66.1 FT%, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 18–6, 5–4 SEC; Rank: No. 18
Thursday: 84–83 loss vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt — Started; 37:28, career-high 27 points, 11–15 FG (11 FGs career-high), 5–8 FT, 12 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 assist, 5 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block, +1
Next game — 7:30 Monday at No. 4 Texas
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center
Season statistics — 24 games, 24 starts, 13.3 points, ACC-leading 67.9 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 69.7 FT%, 7.0 rebounds
Team record: 18–6, 9–2 ACC
Tuesday: 84–83 win at SMU — Started; 27:44, 11 points, 4–7 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3–8 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, +8
Saturday: 82–73 win vs. Virginia Tech — Started; 27:03, 11 points, 5–7 FG, 1–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 1 block, +12
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday at No. 24 Louisville, ESPN
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 — 23 games, 23 starts, 14.6 points, 50.2 FG%, 45.0 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 19–4, 6–5 SEC: Rank: No. 19
Saturday: 92–91 loss vs. Oklahoma — Started, 35:51, 18 points, 6–14 FG, 5–11 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 1 block, +/- of 0
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Auburn
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 20 games, 12 starts, 9.6 points, 39.9 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 69.7 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 8–16, 1–11 ACC
Thursday: 70–65 loss vs. Wake Forest — Started; 32:06, 10 points, 4–9 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, -1
Sunday: 95–36 loss at No. 17 Duke — Didn’t play (injured)
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday at No. 25 North Carolina, ACC Network
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve minutes
Season statistics — 23 games, 2.9 points, 50.0 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 61.9 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 18 assists, 12 blocks, 4 steals
Team record: 13–12, 6–6 Southern Conference
Thursday: 78–64 win vs. The Citadel — 10 minutes, 4 points, 1–1 FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover
Saturday: 69–49 win vs. Mercer — 14 minutes, 1 point, 0–2 FG, 1–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 3 blocks
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Wofford, ESPN+
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 23 games, 23 starts, team-leading 19.4 points, 49.1 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 81.6 FT%, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 11–13, 4–9 Big Ten
Wednesday: 76–73 win vs. No. 7 Michigan State — 38 minutes, 17 points, 4–12 FG, 3–7 3FG, 6–7 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Sunday: 67–62 loss vs. Maryland —37 minutes, 12 points, 3–7 FG, 2–6 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 block, 1 steal
Next game — 9 p.m. Saturday at Washington, NBCSN, Peacock
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup center
Season statistics — 23 games, 4 starts, 8.7 points, 53.8 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 72.3 FT%, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 19–4, 6–5 SEC: Rank: No. 19
Saturday: 92–91 loss vs. Oklahoma — Started, 4 points, 2–3 FG, 10 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, -6
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Auburn
Photo via @KentuckyWBB
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