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UNC Basketball: Maye brothers, Luke and Cole, both win national titles

By Brandon Griffin

Apr 4, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) waves to the fans during the North Carolina Celebration at The Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Suzie Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) waves to the fans during the North Carolina Celebration at The Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Suzie Wolf-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Florida’s win over LSU in the College World Series, Cole Maye joined his brother Luke as national champions in 2017.

So far, 2017 might end up going down as the year of the Maye.

First, Luke Maye helped North Carolina win its sixth NCAA Championship in April.

His brother Cole is on the Florida baseball team, which just won the College World Series.

Luke played a big part in helping North Carolina take home the title. Not only did he win South Regional Most Outstanding Player, he also hit the game-winning shot to beat Kentucky and get UNC to their second straight Final Four.

Cole was not as instrumental to his team’s success. The 6-foot-7 pitcher pitched only 3.2 innings this past year for the Gators, but that doesn’t make him any less of a champion.

It’s not a bad year to be a Maye brother. Oddly enough, neither championship happened in the month of May.

Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Killian Tillie (33) dribbles around North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) during the second half in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Killian Tillie (33) dribbles around North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) during the second half in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

How often do two brothers help two different teams win championships in two different sports in the same year?

Sure brothers have delivered multiple championships, but in the same season? That’s special.

Kris Jenkins and Nate Britt went back-to-back with national championships for their families. Miles and Mason Plumlee both won in 2010 and Marshall Plumlee followed up with a win in 2014; all at Duke.

And of course, there are the Manning brothers. Eli and Peyton both have multiple Super Bowl trophies.

But championships in the same year in two different sports…that is rare indeed.

So what else should the Mayes’ try to accomplish in 2017? There are two more brothers, can they form a bobsled team and win a championship there?

Maybe a mighty four square tournament is needed or even a doubles team in tennis?

Regardless this is a great year to be a Maye.

Congratulations to Luke and Cole. May the other Maye’s also find success, hopefully though more like their brother Luke at UNC and not somewhere else.

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