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UNC Basketball: Day’Ron Sharpe, Puff Johnson at John Wall Invite

By Zack Pearson

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Rameses, the North Carolina Tar Heels mascot, is seen as they take on the Iona Gaels during the first half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Rameses, the North Carolina Tar Heels mascot, is seen as they take on the Iona Gaels during the first half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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A pair of UNC Basketball commits shined in their first games at the John Wall Holiday Invitational on Friday night in North Carolina

One of the top holiday tournaments in the country takes place every year in Raleigh, North Carolina as the John Wall Invitational showcases some of the top talent in the country.

This year is no different.

The annual tournament tipped off on Thursday and already people were waiting in line to get into the event. On Friday and Saturday, the lines were reportedly down the street to see some of the top players in the 2020 and 2021 classes showcase their talents.

For the North Carolina Tar Heels, they have two 2020 commits playing in this year’s event with Puff Johnson at Hillcrest Prep from Arizona and Day’Ron Sharpe at Montverde in Florida.

Sharpe is making his return to the state of North Carolina to play for the first time since he transferred out to Montverde. In his first game, Sharpe finished the game with 14 points and 6 rebounds in the win for Montverde as they beat Durham Academy 85-43.

The UNC commit received some praise after the game as he showed off his impressive skill-set for a post player:

Sharpe did most of his damage in the first half in the blow out win and didn’t attempt a single field goal in the second half with the game out of hand. Montverde will play in the nightcap on Saturday vs. Millbrook.

As for Johnson, he scored 17 points in the Hillcrest 62-58 win and had 14 of those in the second half. Rivals reporter Eric Bossi wrote on Johnson in his notebook from Friday:

"It has taken a little bit of time for North Carolina bound wing Puff Johnson to find his comfort zone on a loaded Phoenix (Ariz.) Hillcrest team but he played his best game of the year for them on Friday. He knocked down shots when given the opportunity, played within the offense and what was most encouraging was seeing him drive to the lane and finish with some toughness around the rim."

Hillcrest will take on Moravian Prep on Saturday afternoon as they look to advance in the tournament again.

Next. Ranking the UNC Basketball recruiting classes of the decade. dark

For more on Sharpe and Johnson as well as other UNC Basketball recruits, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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