Dynamic UNC guard recruit Reniya Kelly won first of four state titles at age 12; at 7, ‘Broadway’ wanted to be great

Seven-year-old Reniya Kelly is in tears after she struggles with a ball-handling drill at an AAU tryout. Kelly keeps crying, embarrassed that she can’t do it better. Kelly sits silently in the back seat during the 20-minute drive home up Interstate 59 until her dad pulls over after they take the Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive exit southwest of Birmingham, Ala. Even though they are almost home, he wants to stop and ask what’s wrong. “ ‘I need you to show me how to be great,’ ” her dad U.J. Mitchell recalls her saying that day in response. “I knew that comment was different, coming from a child that young.”

Tar Heels in NBA: Barnes’ Kings end NBA’s longest playoff drought; Johnson’s best game of season propels Nets; White 17 points, 9 assists

On a night when Harrison Barnes’ Sacramento Kings ended the longest playoff drought in NBA history without one of his best games, the Brooklyn Nets got a much-needed win in Cameron Johnson’s best game of the season. Johnson scored 31 points in 34 minutes, with five 3-pointers, seven rebounds and five assists.

Wojcik, a 38% 3-point shooter, transferring from Brown to UNC

Paxton Wojcik, the son of former UNC assistant coach Doug Wojcik, will transfer from Brown to North Carolina. Paxton Wojcik, who announced his plans on Twitter early Monday evening, will be a graduate transfer after averaging 14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season while shooting 46% from the floor and 38% from 3-point range. The news came on the same day that Caleb Love entered the transfer portal.

Tar Heels in MLB: Gallen Arizona’s opening-night starter after spectacular season; Bard back as Rockies closer; Stallings back at Miami; Harvey hopes for another chance

Three former Carolina players are on Opening Day major-league rosters, with Matt Harvey hoping for another chance. Seven others who have made their big-league debuts are starting the season in Triple-A and another is in Double-A. Easily topping the list of former Tar Heels in pro baseball is Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, who comes off the best of his four major-league seasons and is one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Tar Heels in NBA: Little hits season-high 28 points but depleted Blazers fall; Anthony scores 21; White, who Bulls coach calls more complete player, scores 13

Without four regular Portland starters, Nassir Little came off the bench to play his most minutes in over a month and the third-most this season. He did all he could for the depleted Blazers with a season-high 28 points in 31 minutes as they kept it close before losing 118–112 at home Sunday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Castagnozzi, Horvath power No. 15 UNC, Sandy saves series-clinching win over Duke

CHAPEL HILL — The power of No. 15 Carolina’s defensive versatility was on full display Saturday. Mac Horvath played his fourth consecutive game in right field, shifting from third base to make way for another power threat, fellow junior and housemate Johnny Castagnozzi, to play at third base. Both hit home runs to lead UNC (18–6, 4–3 ACC) to a 5–3 victory over Duke (15–9, 4–5) to capture the weekend series 2–1.