UNC Basketball: These 2 Tar Heels are projected 1st round draft picks

A pair of UNC basketball stars are projected 1st round draft picks

The North Carolina Tar Heels have a couple of the most talented freshman players in college basketball in Nassir Little and Coby White. The pair was so good in the Tar Heels’ last game, in fact, that they set a UNC freshman record for most combined points in a game with 50.

Given the noticeable progression of Little’s game in recent weeks, and the star-power that we’ve intermittently seen from White this season, their stay in Chapel Hill might be a brief one.

In their latest 2019 mock draft, the folks over at NBADraft.net project both Little and White to be gone from the college ranks when the NBA comes calling in June.

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Little is projected as the No. 10 selection to the Detroit Pistons, while White is slated to go 26th to the Brooklyn Nets.

Little, who entered college as a near sure-fire NBA lottery pick, lost some draft stock with pro scouts after a slow start in Chapel Hill. He’s regained some of that, though, thanks in part to his increased impact and consistency during the Tar Heels’ current three-game winning streak.

He notched a new career-high scoring mark with 23 points against the Virginia Tech Hokies last week. He was extremely efficient in his efforts, too, hitting 7-of-12 shots from the floor and 2-of-3 from the three-point line. He also connected on all seven of his free throw attempts, and hauled in six rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes off the UNC bench.

And White, who’s been the Tar Heels’ starting point guard from day one, is averaging better than 36 percent from beyond the arc and nearly 81 percent from the charity stripe. He’s had good games and bad — the way most freshman basketball players do — but White’s play this season has been, and will continue to be, paramount to the success of the Tar Heels.

For the season, White is averaging nearly 15 points, four assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. But his ability to run the offense, get teammates involved and create his own offense has been immeasurable. He’s the team’s second-leading scorer and top assist man, despite playing the fourth-most minutes.

A third Tar Heel, Cameron Johnson, is projected as a second round pick (No. 40) to the Detroit Pistons. Johnson leads the Tar Heels in scoring with 15.5 points per game. He’s been their most consistent offensive weapon this season, hitting 50 percent of his shots from the floor and 46.5 percent from three-point range.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for updates on the Tar Heels’ draft stock, as well as everything North Carolina basketball.