Expectations abound in Chapel Hill as two Tar Heels are named preseason All-Americans
Just a day after releasing its college basketball preseason top-25, NBC Sports announced its selections for 2018-19 All-Americans. 20 players were named across four teams, and among those included are seven Atlantic Coast Conference players and two Tar Heels.
North Carolina senior forward Luke Maye has been named a preseason first team All-American after averaging 16.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists last season. The Huntersville, North Carolina native was the most improved player in college hoops last season, and his efforts earned him third team All-American honors from the Associated Press and Sporting News.
The former walk-on was second in the ACC in double-doubles and shot better than 43 percent from three-point range. Maye averaged more minutes per game than any UNC player not named Joel Berry, and he’ll be asked to assume an even greater leadership role in 2018.
NBC’s Rob Dauster had this to say about the Tar Heels’ heralded returning senior:
"“Maye might just be the best returning player in all of college basketball, which is not something that I ever envisioned myself saying. After hitting the game-winning jumper to send North Carolina past Kentucky and into the Final Four in 2017, the year the Tar Heels won the national title, Maye ended up having an All-American season as a junior, averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 boards while shooting 43.1 percent from three.”"
Maye is joined on NBC’s first team by Purdue guard Carson Edwards, Gonzaga’s Rui Hachimura, Kansas forward Dedric Lawson and Duke freshman R.J. Barrett. Barrett, who has a good shot at claiming the No. 1 spot in the upcoming NBA Draft, was chosen as the preseason Player of the Year.
Another Tar Heel earning a preseason nod from NBC is freshman wing Nassir Little. The five-star small forward is North Carolina’s highest-rated recruit in nearly a decade, and a shoe-in for lottery pick status in the 2019 NBA Draft.
NBC named Little a preseason fourth team All-American, which may be considerably lower than where other publications put him over the next month or so.
"“Little is a tremendous athlete that is going to give the Tar Heels some lineup flexibility,” Dauster said. “But he may still actually be a better prospect than player at this point.”"
The 6-foot-7, 205-pound small forward was as impressive as any high school player in the country this year, being named MVP of both the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, the two most prestigious all-star games in high school basketball. Little’s skill, athleticism and size — including a 7-foot-1 wingspan — have NBA scouts and UNC fans, alike, excited to see him officially take the floor for the first time in November.
Maye, Little and the rest of the Tar Heels will take the court on November 6th when they face Wofford for the front end of a two-game road trip to begin the season.