By R.L. Bynum

Senior Destiny Adams leads the country in multiple statistical leaders, starting the season on a roll for 4–0 Rutgers, which has already won half as many games as last season (8–24).

Among other former UNC players, Caleb Love’s No. 9 Arizona team suffered a rough road loss, redshirt junior Teonni Key played well for unbeaten No. 20 Kentucky and Penn State’s Puff Johnson, Minnesota’s Dawson Garcia and UNCW’s Ali Zelaya all had big game.

Adams piled up 28 points and 11 rebounds in 20 minutes of the Scarlet Knights’ 81–53 Friday home win over Iona, her third consecutive double-double, while playing well on defense.

“My teammates, I think that they feed me the ball,” Adams said in a postgame TV interview. They know when I’m in good position to score, and without them, none of this would have happened.”

Adams leads the country in scoring average (27.0 points per game), double-doubles (three), free throws (34), free-throw attempts (48) and is third in rebounding (14.0). She was the previous week’s Big Ten Player of the Week.

Her frequent trips to the free-throw line come from drawing contact from defenders.

“By also being physical, contact naturally comes to me,” said Adams, who is shooting 70.8% at the line. “And I just got to handle it with grace. I definitely need to work on my free throws, but I’m going to keep getting to the line whenever I can.”

Key has started every game for the Wildcats, who moved to 4–0 with two home victories: 76–42 Tuesday over Wofford and 71–61 in overtime Saturday over No. 18 Louisville.

Key followed up a double-double against Wofford (11 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks) with 17 points, nine rebounds and five blocks against Louisville in the Wildcats’ first test of the season.

Love scored only six points in 25 minutes before getting a technical foul and fouling out in Arizona’s Friday 103–88 loss at Wisconsin. Arizona gets a week to recover from that setback before hosting No. 6 Duke (3–1) at 10:30 p.m. ET Friday (ESPN2).

Senior forward Dawson Garcia scored 24 points in both Minnesota games last week, a 54–51 home Wednesday loss to North Texas and a 59–56 home Saturday win over Yale. He was 20 of 22 from the free-throw line combined in the two games, with 14 total rebounds for the Gophers (3–1).

Penn State is 4–0 after a pair of home wins last week, beating Saint Francis (Pa.) 92–62 on Tuesday and Virginia Tech 86–64 on Sunday.

Puff Johnson, a starter for all four games, collected 20 points and four steals, both team-highs, in 26 minutes against Saint Francis with three 3-pointers and netted nine points and two steals against the Hokies. D’Marco Dunn, a reserve in every game, had 10 points against Saint Francis and four points against Virginia Tech.

Ali Zelaya had more than a point a minute and a double-double Saturday for UNCW (3–2) in a 103–22 home win over The Apprentice School. She had 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. In Thursday’s 78–74 victory at Presbyterian, she collected 12 points, eight assists and two blocks.

Deja Kelly scored seven points in 21 minutes with three rebounds, three steals, and two assists for No. 25 Oregon (3–0) in its only game last week, a 66–35 home Tuesday blowout of North Texas.

Tyler Nickel’s Vanderbilt team is 4–0 after two home wins last week, beating California 85–69 on Wednesday and topping Jackson State 94–81 on Saturday. After only netting eight points against Cal, Nickel scored 15 points and four 3-pointers with four rebounds against Jackson State.

Senior center James Okonkwo had 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks for Akron (1–2) in the Zips’ 88–57 home Friday victory over Ohio Wesleyan for their first victory.

Arizona’s women are off to a 5–0 start. Paulina Paris has started all five games but only had six points in Tuesday’s 75–66 home win over UNLV and five points (with five rebounds) in Saturday’s 84–48 blowout win at Chicago State.

Fifth-year center Anya Poole scored a season-high 14 points and pulled down five rebounds in 17 minutes of Clemson’s 81–33 home Monday win over Presbyterian. Poole has come off the bench in all three games for the Tigers (3–0), who host No. 1 South Carolina at 5 p.m. Wednesday (ESPN2).

Senior wing Dontrez Styles has started every game for N.C. State (3–0) and had 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in Wednesday’s 82–72 home win over Coastal Carolina.

Kerwin Walton had three points, two assists and a steal in a 96–49 Wednesday home win over Wyoming for Texas Tech (3–0).

Will Shaver was scoreless in four minutes in his season debut for UAB (2–2), the Blazers’ 68–65 Friday loss at High Point.

Rylee Grays combined for five points and five rebounds in two Virginia wins, an 83–41 Wednesday win vs. Radford and a 76–47 Sunday win over La Salle

Checking in on 17 former Heels

Destiny Adams, Rutgers forward

6–3 | Senior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)

Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 27.0 points, 48.6 FG%, 2–11 3FG, 70.8 FT%, 14.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks
81–53 Friday win vs. Iona — Started; 20 minutes, 28 points (team-high), 9–19 FG, 1–2 3FG, 9–15 FT, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 fouls, 1 steal, +25 (team-high)
Record — 4–0
Next game — 6 p.m. Tuesday at Virginia Tech, ESPN3

D’Marco Dunn, Penn State guard

6–5, 205 pounds | Senior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)

Season statistics — 4 games, 0 starts; 10.5 points, 53.8 FG%, 41.7 3P%, 9–9 FTs, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal
92–62 Tuesday win vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) — Didn’t start; 13 minutes, 10 points, 4–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 fouls, 1 turnovers, +13
86–64 Friday win vs. Virginia Tech — Didn’t start; 13 minutes, 4 points, 1–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 2 turnovers, -3
Record — 4–0
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Purdue Fort Wayne

Dawson Garcia, Minnesota forward

6–11, 234 pounds | Senior | UNC 2020–21 (part of 1 season)

Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts; 26.0 points (leads team), 66.7 FG%, 60.0 3P%, 87.0 FT%, 7.7 rebounds (leads team)
54–51 Wednesday loss vs. North Texas — Started; 34 minutes, 24 points, 6–9 FG, 2–2 3FG, 10–10 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 1 block, +4
59–56 Saturday win vs. Yale — Started; 37 minutes, 24 points, 6–17 FG, 2–4 3FG, 10–12 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, 2 steals, +9
Record — 3–1
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Cleveland State, Big Ten Network

RyLee Grays, Virginia forward

6–4 | Sophomore | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)

Season statistics — 4 games, 58 minutes, 8 points, 2–10 FT, 4–7 FT, 11 rebounds
83–41 Wednesday win vs. Radford — Didn’t start; 18 minutes, 4 points, 1–1 FG, 2–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 steal, +24
76–47 Sunday win vs. La Salle — Didn’t start; 11 minutes, 1 point, 0–2 FG, 1–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 block, 1 steal, +18
Record — 3–1
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Alabama State, ESPN3

Puff Johnson, Penn State wing

6–8, 205 pounds | Fifth season | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)

Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts; 10.8 points, 57.1 FG%, 54.5 3P%, 71.4 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals
92–62 Tuesday win vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) — Started; 26 minutes, 20 points (team-high), 7–8 FG, 3–4 3FG, 3–5 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 4 steals (team-high), +20
86–64 win Friday vs. Virginia Tech — Start; 18 minutes, 9 points, 4–8 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 block, 2 steals, +18
Record — 4–0
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Purdue Fort Wayne

Deja Kelly, Oregon guard

5–8 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–24 (4 seasons)

Season statistics — 3 games, 4 starts, 14.5 points (leads team), 44.9 FG%, 30.8 3P%, 71.4 FT%, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steal
66–35 Tuesday win vs. North Texas — Started; 21 minutes, 7 points, 3–9 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 3 steals, +21
Record — 3–0; Rank — No. 25
Next game — 9 p.m. Monday vs. Grand Canyon

Teonni Key, Kentucky forward

6–4 | RS junior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)

Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 11.5 points, 52.6 FG%, 1–7 3P FG, 5–7 FT, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 2.8 blocks
76–42 Tuesday win vs. Wofford — Started; 21 minutes, 11 points, 5–10 FG, 1–3 3FG, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 2 blocks, +20
71–61 OT Saturday win vs. No. 18 Louisville — Started; 38 minutes, 17 points, 7–12 FG, 0–1FG, 3–4 FT, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 5 blocks, +6
Record — 4–0; Rank — No. 20
Next game — 6 p.m. Monday vs. Purdue Fort Wayne

Caleb Love, Arizona guard

6–4, 205 pounds | Fifth season | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)

Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts; 11.0 points, 35.1 FG%, 26.3 3P%, 2–2 FTs, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists
103–88 Friday loss at Wisconsin — Started; 25 minutes, 6 points, 2–13 FG, 0–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 fouls, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, -8
Record — 2–1; Rank — No. 9
Next game — 10:30 Friday vs. No. 6 Duke, ESPN2

Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing

6–7, 220 pounds | Junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)

Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts; 12.0 points, 44.1 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 72.7 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist
85–69 Wednesday win vs. California — Started; 23 minutes, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal, +8
94–81 Saturday win vs. Jackson State — Started; 23 minutes, 15 points, 5–10 FG, 4–8 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal, +23
Record — 4–0
Next game — 6:30 Thursday vs. Nevada at Charleston Classic, ESPNU

James Okonkwo, Akron forward

6–8, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)

Season statistics — 3 games, 32 starts, 6.3 points, 56.3 FG%, 1–2 FTs, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks
88–57 Friday win vs. Ohio Wesleyan — Started; 21 minutes, 10 points, 5–6 FG, 5 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 blocks, 1 steal
Record — 1–2
Next game — 6 p.m. Friday vs. Lamar, ESPN+

Paulina Paris, Arizona guard

5–9 | Junior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)

Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 6.0 points, 35.7 FG%, 35.7 3P% (2 of 10), 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists
75–66 Tuesday win vs. UNLV — Started; 24 minutes, 6 points, 2–4 FG, 2–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, -3
84–48 Saturday win at Chicago State — Started; 15 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, +14
Record — 5–0
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Northern Arizona, ESPN+

Anya Poole, Clemson forward

6–2 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–24 (4 seasons)

Season statistics — 3 games, 0 starts, 7.3 points, 64.7 FG%, 0 FT attempts, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 blocks
81–33 Monday win vs. Presbyterian — Didn’t start; 17 minutes, 14 points, 7–10 FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, +38
Record — 3–0
Next game — 5 p.m. Wednesday vs. No. 1 South Carolina, ESPN2

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
68–65 Friday loss at High Point — (season debut) 4 minutes, 0 points
Record — 2–2
Next game — 7:30 Monday vs. Auburn Montgomery, ESPN+

Dontrez Styles, N.C. State wing

6–6, 210 pounds | Senior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)

Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 9.3 points, 55.0 FG%, 28.53P%, 66.7 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks
82–72 Wednesday win vs. Coastal Carolina — Started; 28 minutes, 10 points, 3–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 4–6 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 2 blocks, +9
Record — 3–0
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Colgate, ACCN

Kennedy Todd-Williams, Ole Miss guard

6–0 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)

Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts; 7.0 points, 11.1 FG% (3 of 27), 0 of 7 3P FG, 80.0% FT%, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals
85–24 Sunday, Nov. 10, win vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff — Started; 26 minutes, 6 points, 1–9 FG, 0–2 3FG, 4–4 FT, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block, 2 steals, +41
Record — 1–1; Rank — No. 19
Next game — noon Monday vs. Jackson State

Kerwin Walton, Texas Tech guard

6–5, 200 pounds | Fifth season | UNC 2020–22 (2 seasons)

Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 11.7 points, 47.8 FG%, 44.4 3P%, 0 FT attempts, 2.6 rebounds
96–49 Wednesday win vs. Wyoming — Started; 20 minutes, 3 points, 1–4 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 steal, +23
Record — 3–0
Next game — 8 p.m. Monday vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, ESPN+

Ali Zelaya, UNCW forward

6–4 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–24 (4 seasons)

Season statistics — 5 games, 5 starts, 10.4 points, 44.1 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 75.0 FT%, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 blocks
78–74 Thursday win at Presbyterian — Started; 29 minutes, 12 points, 5–11 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 2 blocks, +5
103–22 Saturday win vs. The Apprentice School — Started; 15 minutes, 17 points, 7–11 FG, 2–2 3FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals, +39
Record — 3–2
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Winthrop, FloCollege