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#UNC forward Jonathan Powell, a transfer from West Virginia
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0:00
Rod Baxley, Fable Observer. How would
0:03
you describe your competitiveness and
0:05
take us back to the practice jersey
0:08
thing at West Virginia?
0:10
Uh, I'll say my competitiveness. I mean,
0:14
I like a I have like a flip every time I
0:16
get on the court, like a little switch I
0:18
can like flip on and off. So, I mean,
0:21
always looking to compete and I mean to
0:24
win. Then like with the jersey thing
0:26
that's just uh
0:29
I did it once here but I try I try not
0:31
to do it no more just when I get upset
0:34
or like not having my practice sometime
0:36
I just down the middle just rip it.
0:39
How do you balance those two things with
0:41
trying not to go over that line but
0:43
maintaining that competitive fire that
0:45
you need on the court? really just
0:46
understanding that like the work I put
0:49
in. I mean, I know the work I put in
0:51
every day. So, it's no reason to get
0:53
upset about missed shots or certain
0:56
stuff that's out of my control.
1:01
Jeremiah,
1:03
yeah, Jeremiah with Inside Carolina.
1:05
Donovan, uh, wanted to ask you just kind
1:07
of getting integrated with this team so
1:09
far. I know official practice has
1:10
started, but you've kind of been with
1:11
these guys for a while. How would you
1:13
kind of characterize what you guys are
1:14
trying to do from a from a offensive
1:16
standpoint? Obviously, a lot of new
1:17
guys, you know, figuring each other's
1:19
games out. How would you characterize uh
1:21
just what you guys are trying to do
1:22
offensively?
1:23
I mean, it's a good understanding of
1:25
what like everyone can do now since I
1:29
mean, the first week to now. So, really
1:31
just
1:32
staying inside of what we can do, but
1:35
doing it in a confident way. I mean,
1:36
knowing everyone's abilities and playing
1:38
everybody's strong suits. So just
1:41
staying at that every day.
1:42
Was that something that you felt was a a
1:44
quick developing process as far as you
1:46
know getting to know each other's skill
1:47
sets or just kind of I guess how uh I
1:50
guess smooth was that you know learning
1:52
everyone's abilities?
1:53
I think it was quick. You was able to
1:55
tell from the start like who's able to
1:57
do this, who's able to do this and that.
1:58
So really just picking at that and like
2:01
just learning from each other.
2:04
Sh with the news server. I'm curious
2:06
what's impressed you the most about
2:08
Henry specifically his skill set his
2:11
skill set his leadership
2:14
like that.
2:17
I'll say his shooting. I mean um and his
2:20
way to protect the paint and and his
2:22
touch too. He got a good little floater.
2:24
Uh but uh Henry's good. He's really
2:27
good. He surprised me. I mean we played
2:28
him last year when I was dreams at
2:30
Arizona. Didn't see much of him but when
2:33
he was in you could tell he was out
2:34
there. So really just seeing his true
2:37
game here and how big of a piece he's
2:40
gonna be for our team is is big and I'm
2:43
ready to play with him.
2:44
John, when you think back to the spring
2:46
and going to portal, what were the
2:47
things that you were looking for most as
2:49
you were going through that process and
2:50
what was Hubert's pitch to you as far as
2:51
trying to get you to come here? Uh the
2:54
main thing for me was looking for a
2:57
coach that believed in me and my
2:59
abilities and what I can do on the court
3:01
and really just having that relationship
3:04
with a coach and instantly it clicked
3:08
with Hubert and him just seeing like
3:11
what he liked in my game and what I
3:14
could do for his team and I really
3:16
picture myself doing that, playing for
3:18
him and being playing with North
3:21
Carolina across my chest. So that's
3:22
something I want to do.
3:24
Jonathan, uh Andrew Jones started 24/7.
3:26
When you look at your season last year,
3:28
your rebounding really started picking
3:30
up about late January. What was the
3:32
difference in your numbers going out
3:34
there? Was it more aggressiveness? Was
3:35
there anything else that you gained as
3:37
far as comfort that kind of took those
3:39
numbers up?
3:40
I think it was me just um
3:44
just getting more comfortable out there.
3:46
I mean, obviously I could shoot the
3:48
ball, but taking the next part of my
3:50
game of being more aggressive and like I
3:52
said, going to grab some rebounds. I
3:54
mean, I'm more than capable of doing it.
3:55
So, just playing with that, another part
3:58
of edge of going to grab a couple
3:59
rebounds.
4:00
We talked to Hub a few weeks ago and he
4:02
said he thinks you could be a fantastic
4:03
offensive rebounder. What kind of
4:05
offensive rebounder can you?
4:06
I think I can be a great one, too. I
4:08
mean, if I the same effort, energy I
4:11
want to have shooting a ball, if I put
4:13
that same energy towards going and
4:15
crashing off boards, then I can be one.
4:20
Go ahead.
4:21
Adam Smith within South Carolina.
4:23
Jonathan, uh, when you were talking
4:24
earlier about understanding and learning
4:27
this new team that has come together
4:29
from all these different places, like
4:31
what had you learned specifically about
4:33
some of these guys? like what do you
4:35
like about the way this team is is is
4:37
shaping up?
4:39
I'll just speak for I mean everyone um
4:43
cuz we all have the same things on the
4:46
court. I mean we all want to win. That's
4:48
uh the one thing I can pick up since day
4:50
one to now if it's every practice, every
4:54
conditioning, every little thing we do,
4:56
it's about getting better, making each
4:59
other better. And at the end of the day,
5:01
we all got one goal and we want to win
5:03
at the highest level.
5:05
Is that something you can feel? Cuz I
5:06
know Hubert has talked about he feels
5:07
like this is a competitive group. Some
5:10
of his like first impressions of you
5:12
guys. Can you sort of feel that?
5:14
You can feel it every day. Every every
5:17
drill, if it's competing, every little
5:20
thing we do, we can just everyone is
5:22
just ready to go, ready to compete,
5:24
ready to win.
5:26
Jonathan, no one's talked to Tar Hill
5:27
24/7. What what were some of your first
5:29
impressions like of Chapel Hill and
5:31
getting on the campus and how has that I
5:32
guess changed or is there anything that
5:34
sort of surprised you since being here?
5:37
I haven't been around Chapel Hill much,
5:39
but from walking from class to class and
5:42
seeing Franklin Street, I mean, I like
5:44
it. I mean, it's most definitely
5:45
different from uh Morgantown a little
5:48
bit, but uh but I like it. It's a little
5:51
bit more stuff to do down here.
5:53
Have you got ice cream shop?
5:55
Say again.
5:56
Have you got an ice cream shop down
5:57
there? Uh,
5:59
I've probably been there a couple times.
6:02
Jonathan Riley Davis from Sleepers Media
6:04
and he checked CBV. I know we saw that
6:06
you could shoot last year at West
6:07
Virginia. You know, where most of your
6:09
shot tips came from, but where have you
6:10
most been working on your game from an
6:12
offensive perspective this uh offseason
6:14
into the start of practices?
6:16
Really just expanding it. I mean, uh,
6:20
I've always had the same abilities, but,
6:22
uh, I really worked on getting to the
6:24
rim, really switching it up, being able,
6:27
but I'm more than a three, and I'm
6:30
looking forward to showing you guys that
6:32
this year.
6:33
And speaking to your three-point
6:34
shooting, I know there's a lot of guys
6:36
on this team who are good shooters with
6:37
you, with Ken Evans, with Luca, with
6:40
Derek Dixon. How do you stack yourself
6:42
up to those guys in terms of the best
6:43
shooter on the team? Uh, like I said, we
6:46
compete in everything. I mean, I think
6:49
I'm the best shooter in the country.
6:50
That's just my confidence. So, I mean,
6:53
every time I step in the gym, no matter
6:54
where it is, who isn't, who else is in
6:56
there, I think I'm the best shooter.
6:58
Hey, Jonathan. Grant Sasher Taro is on a
7:01
side. Uh, Huber has talked a lot about
7:02
emphasizing guard versatility. How do
7:04
you see yourself fitting into that
7:06
concept?
7:07
Can you repeat that, please?
7:08
Yeah. Uh, so he coach Davis talked a lot
7:11
about emphasizing guard uh versatility.
7:13
How do you see yourself fitting into
7:15
that concept?
7:17
Uh,
7:18
I mean, Coach Davis, he's seen the
7:20
potential in me with not just being able
7:22
to just shoot the ball, but also create
7:24
for not just myself, but my teammates as
7:27
well. So, he's given me the freedom and
7:30
I mean, the space to be able to do that.
7:32
So, each day I look to get better at
7:34
that, creating for me and my teammates,
7:36
and just showing that I can put the ball
7:38
on the ground and not just be just a
7:39
shooter.
7:41
Jonathan, uh, Tom Shen, all sports
7:43
discussion. You know, there aren't, this
7:45
is a portal era. There aren't a lot of
7:47
schools making players available this
7:49
early in the season. Are you enjoying
7:51
sitting down here and getting to meet a
7:52
a new uh media core and a new
7:55
environment?
7:56
Uh, it's most definitely a little a
7:58
little different. I mean, I didn't had
8:00
this before the season last year. So,
8:02
being able to do this, I mean, I'm I'm
8:04
grateful to be in this position.
8:07
Jonathan Jesse like Williams one. Um,
8:09
obviously a guy like Seth Trimble played
8:11
a lot of basketball here in North
8:12
Carolina. What can you learn from a guy
8:14
like that?
8:15
I'll say since I mean day one, I mean
8:18
his his leadership I mean and his
8:21
knowledge of the game of being here and
8:23
what it takes to compete at the highest
8:26
level to compete at North Carolina. So
8:28
just picking little things up off him
8:30
every day. I mean I mean I'm blessed to
8:33
be by his side and to be able to compete
8:35
with him this season.
8:37
What do the shooting competitions look
8:39
like like in practice? If you're the
8:42
best shooter in the country, does that
8:43
mean Luke is the best shooter
8:44
internationally?
8:46
And is there, you know, does somebody
8:48
like try to get those things going? Like
8:49
is there somebody talking like come over
8:51
here, let's you know, let's let's do
8:53
some battle.
8:54
Uh,
8:55
usually no. We It's not like no
8:58
competition going on, but like I mean
9:00
during practice either one day it's
9:03
maybe Derek or one day it's Luca or Ken
9:06
or me just or one day it's everybody
9:09
knocking some shots in. So but as far as
9:11
that I mean
9:14
we can shoot this year. I say
9:17
Jonathan, going back to AJ's question
9:18
about rebounding and those improvements
9:20
down the stretch last year. How do you
9:22
build off that in an off season and what
9:24
have you kind of picked up on rebounding
9:26
since being here?
9:28
Really just
9:30
staying on it? I mean, not like
9:34
staying consistent with rebounding. I
9:35
mean, if it's really not trying to have
9:37
practices where I'm not going to the
9:39
boards or crash and really staying
9:41
consistent with it to where it leads to
9:42
the season where it's not just going to
9:44
help myself, but it's going to help my
9:45
team as well. So,
9:49
just a question about um Caleb
9:51
obviously, you know, seems to have a big
9:54
personality. Just are there any moments
9:56
that stand out maybe on the court, off
9:58
the court that kind of speak to that and
10:00
just his personality?
10:01
I mean, what you guys see is as Caleb is
10:06
no difference. He's a He has a very
10:09
goofy personality and I think that's
10:11
something that every team needs and it's
10:14
something that our team needs to to make
10:17
things not so serious all the time. It's
10:18
okay to laugh and to have fun. So, and
10:20
he brings that at every moment. So, I'm
10:23
glad to have him.
10:25
Yeah, you seem like definitely a more
10:27
maybe intense guy practices the the
10:29
practice jersey ribbon and all that. Has
10:30
there been a moment where maybe he's
10:32
kind of come over and like said said a
10:34
joke to you that you
10:37
uh there's most definitely been a couple
10:38
practices just joking around and made me
10:42
laugh a couple times. So to let me know
10:45
like it's okay to laugh and have fun,
10:46
you know, be serious all the time, but
10:48
he's a fun guy. Jeff,
10:51
Jonathan, Jack Morris, David Tario, talk
10:54
a lot about your confidence and clearly
10:56
you're a confident guy. Where exactly
10:57
does that come from? M
11:02
I mean ever since I was little I mean my
11:04
mom told me like I mean don't worry
11:07
about what no one like thinks about you
11:10
or just just be you. So I've always
11:12
carried that like wherever I went if
11:14
it's off the court on the court just
11:17
being me and playing confidently like
11:19
that's just that's what makes me the
11:20
player who I am just playing with
11:22
confidence and the edge.
11:24
Ariel bottom part you talked about
11:26
trying to hit to the red. you you took
11:28
25 free throw attempts last season. Uh
11:32
is what have you changed in your game
11:34
and how will your game change in the
11:36
Carolina system to give you more chances
11:38
to get throws?
11:39
Um
11:42
I believe I have way more freedom than
11:44
what I have of if it's off the dribble
11:46
stuff being able to create for myself or
11:49
have the opportunity. So really just
11:52
being aggressive and not just settling
11:55
for shots beyond beyond arc and knowing
11:57
that I have the size and the strength to
11:59
be able to go inside and create. So
12:02
do you think your three-point picks will
12:04
come differently this season than last
12:06
season?
12:07
Uh
12:10
no I believe that um catching shoes off
12:12
the dribble like it'll be there. I think
12:14
I have more off the dribble
12:16
opportunities, but as far as
12:20
if it's who knows. I mean, I don't if
12:22
it's plays or running transition threes
12:25
or I think it'll be similar. Like I'll
12:27
still get some of the same looks.
12:29
And just speaking to that um freedom
12:32
within the offense, is that part of I'm
12:35
assuming he would pitch to you maybe in
12:37
the portal of what you'd be able to do
12:39
within his system here?
12:41
Uh yes. just um him seeing my ability to
12:44
be able to score um with him and without
12:47
the ball and me being under him and his
12:50
system and what he can do for me and
12:52
help me and teach me and learn me
12:54
certain stuff. So yeah,
12:57
Jonathan, a lot of talk about what you
12:59
can do offensively. How do you sort of
13:00
see yourself fitting into the defensive
13:02
puzzle? And obviously this is a team
13:03
that has a lot more length than it had
13:04
last year.
13:06
Uh most definitely. I mean our team most
13:07
definitely has size and that's something
13:09
I love with this group. I mean, having
13:11
mult multiple people that can guard
13:12
multiple positions, but I think that's a
13:15
part of my game that's in a way slept on
13:17
and not acknowledged in a way. I mean, I
13:20
I show it every day in practice that
13:22
that I can guard. I mean, whatever
13:24
position you even guard. So, I mean,
13:27
that's something that I'm
13:29
really excited to show this year that I
13:31
can play both ends of the floor,
13:32
especially defense.
13:34
Can you guard Can you guard your floor?
13:36
Yes, sir.
13:38
Did you did you have to do a lot of that
13:39
same kind of mix help last year?
13:41
Uh yes. It was a lot of times with
13:43
certain games if it's foul trouble or a
13:45
player's injured I had to guard bigger
13:47
defenders and I mean I think I held my
13:51
own pretty good.
13:52
Jonathan, who are some of the I guess
13:53
most vocal guys on this team when you
13:55
guys are in practice or you know you
13:57
competing like that. Who are the voices
13:59
that you end up hearing the most? Um,
14:02
Durk is the most competitive probably.
14:04
I'll say Seth,
14:06
Ken, Luke. I mean, I ain't going to lie,
14:08
everybody. I mean, everyone talks. I
14:10
mean, that goes into like the winning
14:12
piece. I said, everyone wants to win.
14:14
So, when stuff gets competitive, it's
14:16
chippiness and everyone wants to win.
14:18
Everyone's going to be vocal and talk.
14:20
So, I mean, everyone is talking during
14:22
practice and that's the most thing I
14:23
love about the team.
14:25
Take one more if there was one, Shelby.
14:27
Yeah, just I guess going to that. I
14:28
remember um Seth telling us that he
14:30
feels like the team gelled super quick.
14:33
You said like minimum 10 days max 14.
14:38
That's super fast. I guess just from
14:39
your perspective like how long did it
14:42
take for the team to really gel and what
14:43
do you think allowed you guys to do that
14:45
with so much so many new guys in Austin?
14:50
Uh I agree. I mean
14:53
I didn't expect us to do it that fast. I
14:56
thought it would be like a couple people
14:58
who were kind of going to be in their
15:00
shell and really didn't want to open up.
15:02
But I think what helped us really able
15:05
to jail so fast is that the open gyms
15:08
that we had, I mean early in the year in
15:10
the in the summer and a lot of them got
15:14
chippy cuz I mean everyone's
15:16
competitive, everyone wants to win. So I
15:18
think with that I mean that allowed us
15:20
to bond quickly and really just accept
15:24
one another. So,
15:28
be good. All right, John.
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