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It was a tough day for James Okonkwo’s Great Britain team in a nearly empty gym in Skopje, North Macedonia, far from the atmosphere he’ll see in the ACC next season. The British team lost to Portugal 63–56 on the second day of pool play at the FIBA U20 European Championships Division B. Portugal led by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Brady Manek showed NBA scouts what Carolina fans know well — that he is a dangerous perimeter shooter. In his first game playing for the Atlanta Hawks’ Summer League team, Manek scored 17 points and five 3-pointers, both team-highs, in the Hawks’ 80–76 loss Friday to the Sacramento Kings in Atlanta’s NBA Summer League opener.
James Okonkwo will come to Carolina with a reputation as a shot-blocker and showed why Friday in Great Britain’s opener of the FIBA U20 European Championships Division B. Okonkwo put up a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds while blocking three shots as Great Britain earned a 72–63 victory over Austria as pool play began in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Former West Virginia big man James Okonkwo, who committed Thursday to transfer to Carolina, begins play Friday at the FIBA U20 European Championships.
West Virginia junior 6–8 forward James Okonkwo has committed to North Carolina, giving the Tar Heels needed front-court depth. Okonkwo, who led the Mountaineers with 22 blocks last season while shooting 57.4% from the floor, announced his decision Thursday on social media.
If you enjoy watching Carolina win a national championship, beat Duke and N.C. State, Armando Bacot make history and Drake Maye work his magic, set your DVR for Carolina takeover day Saturday on the ACC Network. Each conference school has one takeover day as the network replays the biggest victories aired on ESPN channels during the last school year during “ACC Network School Takeover.” It began Saturday with Wake Forest and ends July 15 with Boston College.
Brady Manek will play for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Summer League with another chance to prove he belongs in the NBA. Manek, who played for the Charlotte Hornets in last season’s Summer League, will be part of a 15-team Atlanta roster that includes former Duke guard A.J. Griffin, former N.C. State guard Jarkel Joiner and former Florida State forward Mfiondu Kabengele.
Carolina senior guard Deja Kelly and her USA teammates went from an easy victory in their Women’s AmeriCup opener Saturday to a battle Sunday. One day after trouncing Venezuela by 24 points, the Americans trailed in the third quarter but pulled away late for a 65–56 victory over Argentina at Domo de la Feria in León, Mexico, for their 19th consecutive AmeriCup victory. While it was the USA’s second game in as many days, it was Argentina’s tournament opener.
Leaky Black and Pete Nance start play in the NBA Summer League this week, and every game will be televised. Black, who reportedly signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets, will play six games, while Nance, who signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, will play five. Both signed with their local teams, with Black growing up in Concord and Nance in Akron, Ohio.
Ian Jackson scored nine points and a pair of 3-pointers as the United States team turned back China 92–69 in the round of 16 at the FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary.
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