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UNC Basketball: Roy Williams offers thoughts on ‘exciting’ upcoming season

By Zack Pearson

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 31: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on during practice ahead of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium on March 31, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 31: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on during practice ahead of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium on March 31, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Roy Williams speaks about his excitement for the upcoming UNC Basketball season at his annual camp

It’s officially Summer camp season at the University of North Carolina as hundreds of campers are on campus for the Roy Williams Basketball Camps.

Each year the youth participate in Williams’ annual camps which occur in the Summer season. It also gives UNC fans the chance to hear from the head coach for the first time since the conclusion of the previous season.

Williams met the media following Tuesday’s session and he offered some thoughts about the upcoming season.

Following a tough second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament with a loss to Texas A&M, the Tar Heels are losing two leaders from that team. Both Joel Berry and Theo Pinson are lost to graduation as the Tar Heels lose some valuable experience.

The losses also create some gaps in the starting lineup.

Williams will have an interesting decision to make regarding that starting lineup for next season as the point guard spot is a big concern. Seventh Woods is entering his junior season but he hasn’t shown the consistency needed to be penned in as a starter. Granted, an impressive Summer and training camp could change that but as of now the starting spot is wide open.

With the losses of Berry and Pinson come the arrivals of a new freshman class. Williams landed a Top 10 recruiting class highlighted by five-star recruit Nassir Little and also includes Coby White and Rechon Black.

The head coach is just ready for the new season and is excited for what awaits as he told Inside Carolina.

"“I do look at every year as a start, but we’re losing some tremendously gifted kids who shared the leadership of that team maybe as well as any that I’ve had,” Williams said. “And yet we’re bringing in some kids that I think are very gifted – maybe even more gifted than what we’re losing, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to be as good players because experience is a huge part of playing the game of basketball.It’s a new team, it’s completely different. … And I like that part of it.”"

While Williams isn’t allowed much contact with his players in the Summer months, he’s pretty excited about his team as he’s heard good things from the trainers. He will get his first good look at the new team when training camp begins in early September for the Tar Heels.

The camps will continue this week as several former UNC players are in attendance. According to IC, Harrison Barnes, Marcus Paige, Tyler Zeller, Tyler Hansbrough, Marvin Williams, Justin Jackson, Brice Johnson and John Henson are among those in attendance.

Current Tar Heel forward, Luke Maye, is also there as he’s picked up some things from the former players heading into his senior year.

The annual alumni vs. current players game is also set to take place sometime this week and is usually the highlight of the camp.

Next: Armando Bacot dishes on UNC, Duke and more

For more on the camp as well as the upcoming season for the Tar Heels, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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