UNC in the NBA: Trio of former Tar Heels dominate Lakers

Brice Johnson and company too much for Los Angeles Lakers

North Carolina basketball fans were excited when multiple former Tar Heels were named to the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2017 Summer League roster.

Kendall Marshall, Brice Johnson and Isaiah Hicks were all invited to play with the Clippers during this year’s Las Vegas Summer League.

Marshall, who left North Carolina for the NBA in 2012, has the most league experience of the three players. Although he hasn’t been on an NBA regular season roster since 2016, he has played in 160 games with four teams over four seasons.

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Johnson, who graduated from North Carolina in 2016, spent most of the 2016-17 season injured. When he returned from injury, he played in just three games for the Clippers before being sent down to the team’s G-League affiliate.

Hicks was a starter on the Tar Heels’ 2017 NCAA Championship team before going undrafted in June, and subsequently getting an invite to work out with the Clippers.

All three played a role in the Clippers’ 96-93 overtime victory against the Lakers on Friday night.

Hicks played 11 minutes off the bench, scoring seven points on 2-of-5 shooting from the floor and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. He also recorded four rebounds and a block, and committed just one turnover. However, it was his six fouls that hindered his impact in Friday night’s game. His pseudo disqualification (players allowed 10 fouls in Summer League) from the game, the first NBA action of his young career, seemed only fitting after his persistent foul problems at UNC.

Marshall led all players with 11 assists in the game. He committed just three turnovers while playing 29 minutes and handling the ball the majority of the game for the Clippers. His 11 points also helped him notch the only double-double of the game. He shot well, hitting two of his three shots from the floor, including his only three-point attempt and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line.

It was Johnson, though, who stole the show.

The former first team All-American scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. He also played terrific defense, recording seven rebounds, two steals and three blocks in his game-high 33 minutes.

And it was Johnson who helped seal the game for the Clippers down the stretch. His efficient play on the offensive end of the court and tenacious defense against Lakers’ rookie point guard Lonzo Ball was paramount to the team’s victory.

If tonight’s game is any indication, then this group of former Tar Heels, Brice Johnson in particular, could have a very bright future ahead of it.