Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: Justin McKoy makes special visit before heading to Final Four

By Nick Delahanty

Nov 5, 2021; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin McKoy (22) with guard Anthony Harris (0) before the game at Dean Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2021; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin McKoy (22) with guard Anthony Harris (0) before the game at Dean Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

A current UNC basketball player shows that there’s more to life than college sports.

Prior to the UNC basketball program leaving for this weekend’s Final Four in New Orleans, Justin McKoy had some business to take care of.

That business didn’t involve working on NIL deals or even school classwork. Instead, McKoy had plans to make a very special surprise visit before his team hit the road.

Ashlyn Perkins is a six-year-old from the North Carolina area. Ashlyn was diagnosed with cancer back in 2020 and has been receiving treatment ever since.

Her mother, Julie, was quoted as saying that it’s been a rough two weeks for the young cancer patient. After hearing about her latest stay at the UNC Children’s Hospital, McKoy decided to make a visit in an effort to boost her spirits.

Not only did McKoy visit, but he stayed for over two hours. The pair read books, went over sight words, and also made crafts during their time together.

Needless to say, Julie Perkins was beyond appreciative of McKoy’s visit.

"“I was on cloud 9 for the rest of the day,” said Perkins. “Just the fact this young man, who is leaving for the Final Four, he came – not just said hi – he sat down and got to know us.”"

In what will be one of the biggest weekends of his college basketball career, McKoy showed that there is much more to life than just sports.

It’s safe to say that this visit is a moment that the Perkins family will forever be grateful for, and is one that will have a lasting impact on McKoy as well.

If all goes well, Ashlyn is expected to be released from the hospital on Friday, just in time for her to cheer on McKoy and the UNC basketball program on Saturday night.

Next. Statistics show America is rooting for the Tar Heels. dark

Follow us @KeepingItHeel on Twitter and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of UNC basketball news, views, and recruiting updates, as well as everything March Madness.

Home/UNC Basketball