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CHAPEL HILL — Football before a packed Kenan Stadium is nothing new. But when 50,596 fans filled the stadium Wednesday, it was anything but normal and a huge night for soccer fans. With the turf traded for temporary natural grass, the football was English-style and played in the oppressive July heat.
After playing for the Charlotte Hornets’ Summer League team, Leaky Black’s reported two-way contract with the team became official on Wednesday.
Ahead of Wednesday’s historic match at Kenan Stadium, Chelsea left back Mark Cucurella, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino and Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson spoke to the media.
Pete Nance won a championship, but Brady Manek was the most productive of the four UNC alums who played in the NBA Summer League. Meanwhile, Leaky Black got few chances to show what he could do, and Garrison Brooks had some solid games.
GREENSBORO — On Monday night, most players faced some of the toughest competition of their careers, but that was far from the case for Sydney Barker. After going up against her talented North Carolina teammates in practices and pickup games at Carmichael Arena in the past month, the talent level was down a few notches for the 5–7 freshman at the N.C. Coaches Association Women’s East-West All-Star Game at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Although UNC transfer James Okonwko struggled to score in Great Britain’s FIBA U20 European Championships Division B finale, he showed off his passing skills. After collecting only three assists in the first six games, the 6–8, 240-pound former West Virginia player dished out a team-high four assists as the British team lost to Switzerland 82–73 in its final consolation-bracket game in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Sydney Barker turned down mid-major scholarship offers for a chance to walk on to her dreams in Chapel Hill. Even before wearing a Carolina uniform, the 5–7 freshman point guard from Durham’s Jordan High School already cherishes her choice.
James Okonkwo scored 18 points, his highest total of the FIBA U20 European Championships Division B, but it wasn’t enough for his Great Britain team in the first of two consolation-bracket games. After playing before a packed arena in a quarterfinal loss Friday to host North Macedonia, it was back to a mostly-empty Sports Centre Boris Trajkovski arena in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Saturday as the Netherlands pulled out an 82–78 victory over the British team.
UNC transfer big man James Okonkwo produced his fourth double-double in five games, but it wasn’t enough to advance his Great Britain team at the FIBA U20 European Championships Division B. Okonkwo collected 16 points, 10 rebounds, two 3-pointers, two blocks and a steal in the British team’s 66–49 loss to host North Macedonia (4–1) in the quarterfinals at the SRC Kale arena in Skopje, North Macedonia.
It was the best collective day for Tar Heels at the NBA Summer League, including former teammates playing each other. Brady Manek had the best game Thursday with the most playing time in the Atlanta Hawks’ four games after not playing (coach’s decision) in the Hawks’ game on Wednesday.
This weekend, you’ll get three more chances to watch Carolina junior transfer James Okonkwo play for Great Britain at the FIBA European Championships Division B in Skopje, North Macedonia. Okonkwo has averaged a double-double through four games at 11.8 points and 10.8 rebounds, leading his team in both categories. His rebounding average and 14.5 rebounds per 40 minutes both are second in the tournament.
After a flurry of departures and arrivals in the offseason, where does Carolina’s men’s basketball team stack up against the rest of the ACC? Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports and College Hoops Today projects that the Tar Heels will finish third, with Duke winning the league and Miami finishing second.
If any player could threaten at least one of Brendan Haywood’s school blocked-shot records, incoming junior transfer James Okonkwo might be the guy. While producing his third double-double in four games at the FIBA European Championships Division B, the big man who is transferring from West Virginia to Carolina swatted away six shots in Great Britain’s 57–54 victory Tuesday over Hungary at KRC Kale arena in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Junior third baseman/outfielder Mac Horvath became the highest Carolina draft pick in three years when the Baltimore Orioles selected him in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday night in Seattle as the 53rd overall pick.
The young United States team could deal with any challenge it faced at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup — except a veteran group from Brazil. As a result, UNC senior guard Deja Kelly had to settle for a silver medal. The Americans, with seven players making their senior international debuts and no player older than 22, suffered their second tournament loss to the seasoned Brazilians, 69–58 in Sunday’s gold medal game at Domo de la Feria in León, Mexico.
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