Hubert Davis’ love story is taking hold with the Tar Heels.
From his very first press conference as Carolina’s new basketball coach, Hubert told the story that he has repeated many times since.
That the only reason his journey has taken him to this next step at his alma mater was because Dean Smith gave him a scholarship against the Hall of Fame coach’s better judgment. But Davis turned out a better-than-expected college player, pro and, now after his first season, head coach.
His love for UNC has resonated with him since he was four years old when he first came to see his uncle Walter play in Carmichael Auditorium, and from then on, his dream was to follow in Sweet D’s footsteps. College became the building block for his life.
Although he played for the freshman team and later coached under Smith, Roy Williams could not tell that same story. Hubert’s was totally organic, and he wants his players to experience everything he did as a Tar Heel from 1988 through 1992.
Davis says he watched the 1991 Final Four loss to Kansas every year until he was on the bench when the Tar Heels cut down the nets in Phoenix in 2017, a goal he has set for his players from the day succeeded Ol’ Roy. Armando Bacot now has his own Kansas tape to watch.
Sure, AB will make some NIL money after his transcendent season, but being a Carolina student-athlete for four years seems to be at the core of his decision to return. He has made All-ACC and All-Academic and wants to take the next step.
Dave Sadeghi, the owner of Town Hall Grill in Southern Village, is one of Bacot’s NIL sponsors and will have a party for the Tar Heels on April 28, when all of them will be signing shirts and other memorabilia for fans celebrating their great season.
Sadeghi says Bacot wants another summer to improve his mid-range jump shot and his foot speed so he can be even better as a senior, win the ACC Player of the Year award he should have won in 2022 and climb onto the NBA mock draft boards.
And meanwhile, enjoy the full college experience, just as his coach did and recounts often. Bacot’s announcement in a genuine Twitter post shows his love for Carolina was at the heart of it all.
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