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The Zayden High situation is tough for all parties involved.
No official word yet, but speculation is rife that the 6-9 forward will return to the UNC basketball program this coming season. That is premature.
High left the team and school during the 2024 season and, after much digging and FOIA requests by the media, we now know that his suspension from Carolina was for one semester as a result of a female student’s accusation of sexual exploitation during a consensual visit in his dorm room.
This has happened before at UNC and to countless other students around the country and not necessarily athletes who have more to lose publicly. Freshman Jalek Felton left UNC during the 2017-18 season for what resulted in a more severe allegation. Felton never returned to Carolina.
The News & Observer published a long story about the incident last week and, IN MY OPINION, it was unjust to everyone. High admitted he acted improperly with the other student, whose family is now complaining that UNC’s Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office (EOC) has not closely monitored the sanctions, which included no contact with Tar Heel basketball.
High has been seen working out at the Smith Center but not with current or former players, and he is allowed to eat at a UNC cafeteria and use some equipment, per EOC and university policy. Since the suspension came after the 2024 fall semester started, it is unclear if he was in school for the spring semester and if he will be eligible to play this fall.
Here is why it may be unfair to all involved. The female student said she saw High at the Smith Center and understandably felt uncomfortable; an example of where a high-profile athlete’s status is a double-edged sword.
The female student’s name was not released and, hopefully, the story will fade from public scrutiny. But High will carry the charge and suspension in every inch of his 230-pound frame. It will follow him through any remaining time as a Tar Heel, will come up with other teams trying him out and will live on his personal record for businesses interviewing him for a job.
The N&O did its usual in-depth story, but the amount of detail has made some readers (including me) think it was too much for someone who did not receive a stricter penalty than a one semester suspension. Accounts of other incidents of this nature have included stronger language regarding any physical contact between participants and much stiffer penalties.
Unofficial pro-Carolina social media sites are celebrating High’s return, which is inappropriate at this point because probation terms are still being reviewed by UNC and, again, there has been no official statement by the basketball program that High will be a member of the 2025-26 team.
The violation was committed, investigations pursued, and penalties assessed. High will be judged by the court of public opinion, so for him it’s far from over.
Featured image via Todd Melet
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Zaden is getting everything that he deserves for what he did. UNC university needs to be ashamed for trying to hide the details of this from the public. UNC basketball should be ashamed for trying to help hide it, and for thinking about bringing him back to play again. Everyone that has empathy for Zaden should be ashamed too. They feel that way because it was someone’s else’s daughter…not theirs.
I’m not 100% in your corner, but yes…the tail is wagging the dog here. If the university wants to project itself as an upstanding entity with its priorities (ethics, safety, education, research, athletics) in tact, then it should err on the disciplinary side of the ledger. “Fairness” comes not in the penance but in the stated policy for which violations are managed. Failure to adhere to policy (for whatever reason) undermines the very credibility that UNC attempts to hang its hat on. Young adults make mistakes; it’s part of the growing process…but accountability is part of the process, as well. If it were my daughter, I’d be embarrassed, ashamed…and pissed.
There was a settlement so parameters are in place. If him playing basketball at UNC was accepted after a suspension then let him be. Apparently the encounter was consensual but went too far? With a settlement it seems her family wants to destroy High’s prospected future. You’ve settled….move on
According to the article, the encounter was consensual, but he videoed said encounter without her consent. As things progressed, she figured out what was happening and immediately called him out about it. Anyone who videos a sexual encounter without the permission of all participants is reprehensible. In fact, it’s illegal. To what degree this encounter progressed has not been elaborated on, but in my opinion that is immaterial. He videoed her without her knowledge/consent. Had I been that young lady’s father, this would not have been addressed by the EOC, but rather the police department. What exactly do you think he was going to do with that recording?!?! The fact that High’s attorney (and High himself) did not respond to the N&O for their side of the story is very troubling. Especially since the article points out that High admitted guilt in his text messages to the victim. In my opinion, he should have been expelled from the university and immediately dismissed from the basketball team.
I would be upset if my daughter exchanged comments online with a basketball player only seen in passing, went to his dorm room, and promptly had sex. Yes, it was 100% wrong and stupid for High to record the tryst. It was a frosh and adolescent act for which any student-athlete is vulnerable. Remember, when we were there; only then there were no smartphones. High promptly deleted the video, and apologized. There was no retaining, storing, sharing or distribution of the recording. Certainly, High learned his lesson and paid a price. What more do you want?
Two immature adults having consensual sex in a college dorm room. Not a new thing. Spare me the sanctimony. What happened? Only the two students know for sure. The matter WAS investigated and punishment administered, no nefarious cover-up as some want to believe. The News and Inquirer couldn’t care less about Zayden High and this young woman. That much is certain.
ALL$ UR ‘COMMENTATORS’…VOTED 4 DONALD…HYPOCRISY RULE$
I wasn’t very impressed with High’s performance on the court when he did play. I don’t have his stats in front of me, but the overall impression was that he did not set up his shots well enough, took shots when he should have dished to a better shooter, turned the ball over too much, etc. All signs of immaturity in a young player, but the story behind his sanction indicates a deeper level of immaturity to the point of being a concerning lack of character and integrity. I don’t trust him to be a net plus for the Tar Heels and would cut my losses if I were Coach Davis.
With High as our big, the past season would have been more successful. He did not play much as a frosh, but had impact when on the court. He fouled a lot, yes, but was not pushed around like our bigs often were in 2024-25. High has soft hands, unlike Lubin and Washington who had difficulty catching passes and robbed Cadeau of four or five assists per game. I predict we will see High be a difference-maker this coming season.