By R.L. Bynum
Destiny Adams, Dawson Garcia and Caleb Love are having the best seasons of the 19 former Carolina players playing at other schools heading into the holiday break, with Dontrez Styles a consistent factor for N.C. State.
One of the biggest surprises has been Oregon point guard Deja Kelly’s perimeter shooting struggles in her first season with the Ducks (9–3, 0–1 Big Ten).
After shooting 31.2% from outside the arc during her four seasons at Carolina and averaging 15.4 points, Kelly has made only 4 of 31 3-point attempts (12.9%) and is averaging 10.5 points, both career-lows.
She’s had good games, though, including 21 points on Nov. 6 vs. Nevada and eight assists on Nov. 4 against California Baptist.
Adams has dropped off a torrid pace to start the season but is still averaging 17.3 points and 9.6 rebounds for Rutgers (8–4, 0–1 Big Ten). She was battling an injury and only played five minutes of Saturday’s 72–65 win over Lafayette.
Garcia has been Minnesota’s leading scorer and rebounder since he joined the program, and that’s continued this season for the Gophers (7–5, 0–2 Big Ten), with 19.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Love poured in a season-high 24 points in Arizona’s 94–41 Saturday romp over Central Michigan, matching his point total Nov. 29 against West Virginia. Love leads the Wildcats (6–5) in scoring at 15.2 points per game heading into their Big 12 opener Monday against TCU.
Styles has started 11 of 12 games for N.C. State (8–4, 1–0 ACC), is averaging 9.7 points and shooting 35.6% from 3-point range. He scored a season-high 21 points in the Wolfpack’s 84–74 overtime home victory on Dec. 7 in their ACC opener against Florida State.
Kennedy Todd-Williams has put up consistent numbers for No. 25 Ole Miss (8–3), averaging 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds. She’s had big games, including 17 points on Nov. 25 against Boston College, four 3-pointers on Nov. 27 against UConn and 10 rebounds on Nov. 20 against Arkansas Pine-Bluff. She had 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the Rebels’ 78–44 blowout Saturday of Mississippi State.
Kerwin Walton has started every game for Texas Tech (9–2), averaging 5.9 points per game but shooting 40.8% from 3-point range. He had 21 points and seven 3-pointers on Nov. 5 against Bethune-Cookman.
Puff Johnson and D’Marco Dunn’s second seasons at Penn State (10–2, 1–1 Big Ten) have been dramatically different.
Johnson has started all 12 games, averaging 10.7 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 54% from the floor and 31.3% from 3-point range. He scored 20 points against Saint Francis (Pa.).
Dunn has come off the bench for every game, averaging only 6.3 points. His best game was 16 points on Nov. 8 against UMBC.
Three players having solid seasons in their first years at schools are Vanderbilt’s Tyler Nickel, Kentucky’s Teonni Key and Arizona’s Paulina Paris. All three have started every game.
Nickel, who poured in 24 points and six 3-pointers on Nov. 22 against Seton Hall, averages 10.0 points per game and is shooting 35.3% from outside the arc for the Commodores (11–1).
Key is averaging 11.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2.3 assists for No. 16 Kentucky (10–1), which suffered its only loss, 72–53, at No. 17 UNC on Dec. 5. She had 17 points on Nov. 16 against Louisville, 13 rebounds on Nov. 12 vs. Wofford and six blocks on Nov. 26 against Arizona State.
Paris is scoring 10.4 points per game with 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals for the Wildcats (10–4, 1–0 Big 12). She collected 22 points and eight assists on Dec. 2 against Seattle.
Three other transfers in their first seasons at schools — James Okonkwo, Anya Poole and RyLee Grays — have had less-than-ideal starts.
Okonkwo has started only six games for Akron (7–4), averaging 7.6 points and 8.4 rebounds. His best games were 17 points on Dec. 3 against Northern Kentucky and 16 rebounds on Dec. 7 against Brockport.
Grays has only started once and has 29 points in 176 minutes for the Cavaliers (8–5, 0–1 ACC). Her best game was six points and six rebounds on Nov. 29 against Washington State.
Poole, who started 74 games in four seasons at UNC, has come off the bench in all 12 games for Clemson (8–4, 1–0 ACC), averaging 5.0 points and 3.7 rebounds. Her best games were 14 points on Nov. 11 against Presbyterian and seven rebounds in two games.
Ali Zelaya has had some good games in her first season at UNCW (6–6), averaging 9.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. She scored 17 points on Nov. 17 against Apprentice School and had 19 rebounds and five blocks on Nov. 19 against UMass-Lowell.
Will Shaver continues to play sparingly in his second season at UAB (7–6). He’s only played 40 minutes and scored two points with 10 rebounds on the season.
Checking in on 17 former Heels
Destiny Adams, Rutgers forward
6–3 | Senior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)
Season statistics — 12 games, 11 starts, 17.3 points, 48.1 FG%, 23.4 3FG%, 68.1 FT%, 9.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.0 block
72–65 Saturday win vs. Lafayette — Didn’t start; 5 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 1 rebound, 1 foul
Season-highs — 36 points, 22 rebounds Nov. 10 vs. NJIT
Record — 8–4, 0–1 Big Ten
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday vs. Ohio State
D’Marco Dunn, Penn State guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Senior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)
Season statistics — 12 games, 0 starts; 6.3 points, 40.6 FG%, 35.5 3P%, 92.3 FG%, 1.6 rebounds, 1.0 steal
75–64 Saturday win vs. Drexel in Philadelphia — Didn’t start; 12 minutes, 0 points, 0–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 foul
Season-highs — 16 points Nov. 8 vs. UMBC; 4 rebounds Nov. 15 vs. Virginia Tech
Record — 10–2, 1–1 Big Ten
Next game — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Penn
Dawson Garcia, Minnesota forward
6–11, 234 pounds | Senior | UNC 2020–21 (part of 1 season)
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 starts; 19.2 points (leads team), 49.7 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 7.3 rebounds (leads team), 2.1 assists, 0.9 of a block, 0.9 of a steal
74–60 Saturday win vs. FDU — Started; 40 minutes, 18 points, 4–11 FG, 0–2 3FG, 6–6 FT, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 turnover, 1 block
Season-highs — 30 points Nov. 6 vs. Oral Roberts; 11 rebounds Nov. 25 vs. Central Michigan, Dec. 4 vs. Michigan State
Record — 7–5, 0–2 Big Ten
Next game — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Morgan State, Peacock
RyLee Grays, Virginia forward
6–4 | Sophomore | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Season statistics — 13 games, 1 start, 2.2 points, 33.3 FG%, 59.1 FT%, 3.0 rebounds
74–66 Saturday win vs. Coppin State — Didn’t start; 6 minutes, 2 points, 0–1 FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 turnover
Season-highs — 6 points, 6 rebounds Nov. 29 vs. Washington State
Record — 8–5, 0–1 ACC
Next game — noon Sunday at No. 3 Notre Dame, ACCN
Puff Johnson, Penn State wing
6–8, 205 pounds | Fifth season | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 starts; 10.7 points, 54.0 FG%, 31.3 3P%, 79.3 FT%, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals
75–64 Saturday win vs. Drexel in Philadelphia — Started; 11 points, 4–9 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 steal
Season-highs — 20 points Nov. 12 vs. Saint Francis (Pa.); 10 rebounds Dec. 21 vs. Drexel
Record — 10–2, 1–1 Big Ten
Next game — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Penn
Deja Kelly, Oregon guard
5–8 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–24 (4 seasons)
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 starts, 10.5 points, 38.0 FG%, 12.9 3P%, 58.3 FT%, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals
71–43 Saturday win vs UC Irvine — Started; 26 minutes, 2 points, 1–9 FG, 0–2 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 6 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal
Season-highs — 21 points Nov. 6 vs. Nevada; 9 rebounds Nov. 10 vs. Baylor; 8 assists Nov. 4 vs. California Baptist
Record — 9–3, 0–1 Big Ten
Next game — 3 p.m. Saturday at Illinois
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS junior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 11.5 points, 53.1 FG%, 1–12 3P FG, 78.6 FT%, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.7 blocks
84–78 Friday win vs. Belmont — Started; 31 minutes, 12 points, 6–12 FG, 0–1 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 blocks
Season-highs — 17 points Nov. 16 vs. Louisville; 13 rebounds Nov. 12 vs. Wofford, Nov. 26 vs. Arizona State and Dec. 9 vs. Queens; 6 blocks Nov. 26 vs. Arizona State
Record — 10–1; Rank — No. 16
Next game — 4 p.m. Saturday vs. Western Kentucky
Caleb Love, Arizona guard
6–4, 205 pounds | Fifth season | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts; 15.2 points (leads team), 40.1 FG%, 29.4 3P%, 87.0 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists
94–41 Saturday win vs. Central Michigan — Started; 24 minutes, 24 points, 9–14 FG, 3–8 3FG, 3–32 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, +19
Season-highs — 24 points Nov. 29 vs. West Virginia, Dec. 21 vs. Central Michigan; 4 3-pointers Nov. 29 vs. West Virginia; 6 assists Nov. 4 vs. Canisius
Record — 6–5
Next game — 8 p.m. Monday vs. TCU, ESPN+
Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing
6–7, 220 pounds | Junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 starts; 10.0 points, 41.3 FG%, 35.2 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 2.3 rebounds
85–55 Saturday win vs. Austin Peay — Started; 26 minutes, 24 points, 8–16 FG, 6–13 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, +9
Season-highs — 24 points, 6 3-pointers Nov. 22 vs. Seton Hall; 8 rebound Nov. 10 vs. Southeast Missouri State;
Record — 11–1
Next game — 8 p.m. Monday vs. New Orleans
James Okonkwo, Akron forward
6–8, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Season statistics — 11 games, 6 starts, 7.6 points, 58.5 FG%, 64.7 FT%, 8.4 rebounds, 1.0 block
68–50 Saturday win vs. Jackson State in El Paso, Texas — Didn’t start; 24 minutes, 10 points, 2–4 FG, 6–8 FT, 16 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 2 blocks, +14
Season-highs — 17 points Dec. 3 vs. Northern Kentucky; 16 rebounds Dec. 7 vs. Brockport, Dec. 21 vs. Jackson State
Record — 7–4
Next game — 1 p.m. Monday at Princeton, ESPN+
Paulina Paris, Arizona guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Season statistics — 13 games, 13 starts, 10.4 points, 46.7 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 57.1 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 steals
57–53 Saturday win at BYU — Started; 23 minutes, 5 points, 2–6 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 turnovers, 2 steals
Season-highs — 22 points, 8 assists Dec. 2 vs. Seattle; 8 rebounds Nov. 20 at Northern Arizona;
Record — 10–4, 1–0 Big 12
Next game — 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, vs. Utah, ESPN+
Anya Poole, Clemson forward
6–2 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–24 (4 seasons)
Season statistics — 12 games, 0 starts, 5.0 points, 56.6 FG%, 0–1 3FG, 50.0 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 0.9 of a block
72–58 Friday win vs. Hawai’i in San Diego — Didn’t start; 12 minutes, 4 points, 2–4 FG, 4 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +10
Season-highs — 14 points Nov. 11 vs. Presbyterian; 7 rebounds Nov. 7 vs. N.C. Central, Dec. 8 vs. Radford
Record — 8–4, 1–0 ACC
Next game — 6 p.m. Sunday at No. 22 N.C. State, ACCN
Will Shaver, UAB center
6–10, 260 pounds | Redshirt sophomore | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Season statistics — 8 games, 0 starts, 40 minutes, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 10 rebounds, 1 block, 3 steals
91–74 Sunday win vs. Alcorn State — 2 minutes, 1 rebound
Season-highs — 2 points Nov. 11 vs. Auburn Montgomery; 3 rebounds Nov. 22 vs. Longwood
Record — 7–6
Next game — 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at North Texas, ESPNU
Dontrez Styles, N.C. State wing
6–6, 210 pounds | Senior | UNC 2021–23 (2 seasons)
Season statistics — 12 games, 11 starts, 9.7 points, 45.0 FG%, 35.6 3P%, 76.9 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 blocks
89–63 Sunday win vs. Rider — Started; 14 minutes, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–3 3FG, 0–0 FT, 1 rebound, 1 block, +1
Season-highs — 21 points Dec. 7 vs. Florida State; 11 rebounds Nov. 18 vs. Colgate
Record — 8–4, 1–0 ACC
Next game — noon Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Virginia, ESPN2
Kennedy Todd-Williams, Ole Miss guard
6–0 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts; 11.3 points, 34.1 FG%, 27.9 3P%, 81.3 FT%, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.3 steals
78–44 Saturday win vs. Mississippi Valley State — Started; 29 minutes, 12 points, 4–15 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 block, 1 steal
Season-highs — 17 points Nov. 25 vs. Boston College; 4 3-pointers Nov. 27 vs. UConn; 10 rebounds Nov. 10 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff; 5 assists Nov. 14 at Delaware State
Record — 8–3; Rank — No. 25
Next game — 6:30 Monday, Dec. 30, vs. Alcorn State
Kerwin Walton, Texas Tech guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Fifth season | UNC 2020–22 (2 seasons)
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 5.9 points, 37.5 FG%, 40.9 3P%, 5–5 FT, 1.7 rebounds
101–57 Saturday win vs. Lamar — Started; 15 minutes, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 block
Season-highs — 21 points, 7 3-pointers Nov. 5 vs. Bethune-Cookman;
Record — 9–2
Next game — 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, vs. UCF, ESPN+
Ali Zelaya, UNCW forward
6–4 | Fifth season | UNC 2020–24 (4 seasons)
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 starts, 9.1 points, 36.9 FG%, 29.7 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.3 blocks
71–56 Saturday loss at East Carolina — Started; 28 minutes, 5 points, 2–9 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 3 blocks, 2 steals
Season-highs — 17 points Nov. 16 vs. Apprentice School; 19 rebounds, 5 blocks Nov. 29 vs. UMass-Lowell
Record — 6–6
Next game — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Longwood, FloCollege
Photo via @PackMensBball
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