How would you choose your 2020 basketball starting five? The HoopState Network joins Quierra Luck in breaking down each newly acquired player and how they fit in UNC's system.
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:06 Okay, this is a super special edition of the All Tar Heels podcast,
00:12 exclusive, whatever you wanna call it.
00:16 I'm super excited to have Rod Bridges here with me.
00:20 He is a personality from the Hoop State Network,
00:24 which is pretty self explanatory in its name.
00:27 It is all about North Carolina being the hoop state.
00:31 And to me, it almost might be in competition with New York being like,
00:36 the best hoopers come from North Carolina.
00:40 But we're gonna do that at the end of our discussion.
00:45 I kinda wanna just dive straight into, of course, it's in the name, All Tar Heels.
00:51 So we have a pretty impressive group coming in.
00:55 We have the second best recruiting class for 2020.
01:00 And it's the best coaches had in about eight years.
01:05 First time in eight years that we've had a higher recruiting class than Duke,
01:10 and we're just right behind Kentucky.
01:12 So Rod, let's just dive right into Puff Johnson.
01:18 He's probably one of the more familiar ones people would know,
01:21 because he is a brother of Kim Johnson.
01:23 So just let me know your thoughts on Puff and
01:27 kind of like where does he fit in the grand scheme of Carolina?
01:32 >> So I had the chance to see Puff in the John Wall College Invitational.
01:36 We actually streamed a few of his games and Puff's actually that traditional,
01:41 that North Carolina 3 and D wing that can knock shots down.
01:45 And just played the defense, kinda like Reggie Bullock and
01:51 PJ, those guys that came through Carolina.
01:54 So Puff's gonna be a guy that he's gonna excite people cuz when he gets going,
01:57 like he just, it's three or four in a row.
01:59 Like in John Wall, I think in the championship game, he went crazy.
02:02 Like every shot he shot, it felt like he was literally lift his hand,
02:05 like he was good.
02:05 So Puff's a guy that I think he's probably one of the more underrated guys in
02:10 that class.
02:11 But I think over the course of their careers, when it's all said and
02:13 done, Puff would be one of those guys that you'll say, hey,
02:16 he had a great career, just like his brother.
02:18 So, >> All right, so I mean,
02:21 are there anything that we should particularly know about his playing style?
02:24 Is he gonna bring something?
02:26 You know what?
02:26 Because he wants to be different.
02:30 >> Right. >> So can you tell us what makes him
02:34 different, you know what?
02:37 Puff ain't nothing like him.
02:38 >> I think the biggest difference between Puff and Cam, honestly,
02:41 I think Puff likes to put it on the floor a little bit more than Cam.
02:45 Cam was that guy, he just catching it and letting it go wherever he was at.
02:48 It was good.
02:50 Puff likes to get downhill a little bit.
02:52 He's a lefty too, so that kind of makes him a little harder to guard.
02:54 So I think that's probably the biggest difference.
02:56 He likes to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim too.
02:59 >> All right, and let's go to what I think, to me,
03:03 is the best coach has ever done, Caleb Love.
03:06 I'm super, super, super, I wanna see anything bigger than super.
03:12 I am so excited to see Caleb Love in a Carolina uniform.
03:15 I don't know what in this world to do.
03:17 Please talk about Caleb Love and what makes him so special.
03:21 And also, could he, you know what, we're giving this way too early.
03:27 >> [LAUGH] >> We're gonna be like the ex-can,
03:29 those super way too early rankings.
03:31 Could he become, according to how he's been playing and all these titles,
03:37 Mr. Gatorade, Mr. Missouri, everything you can win in Missouri basketball.
03:42 Could he become possibly the best thing out of Missouri?
03:47 >> Ooh, that's tough.
03:48 >> [LAUGH] >> You got Bradley Bill,
03:52 Jason Tatum too, those are two really good ones.
03:57 But Caleb, Caleb is probably- >> I think Jason got some competition.
04:01 >> [LAUGH] I agree.
04:02 So Caleb Love is probably the prize recruit in the women's class.
04:08 When I saw him, I was like, wow, Roy, he's got another one.
04:11 Roy's been on this crazy run the last few years,
04:15 he's getting high level point guard starting with Kobe and going to Cole.
04:18 Now Caleb, when I talk to Carolina fans about Caleb,
04:22 I just say, just enjoy him while he's there, man.
04:24 But it's funny because people classify him as a point guard, but
04:28 he's more in that combo mode where he can play both.
04:35 I saw you say that too, yeah.
04:37 >> He might do Owen Pym at the one, I don't know, but people say I'm crazy.
04:43 >> Yeah, but no, you're right, because I think he just has that ability to play the
04:46 one, but he's a scorer, he gets anywhere on the court, he does what he wants.
04:50 So, but it kinda compares him to Kobe in a sense,
04:53 because that was the same conversation when Kobe was coming to Carolina.
04:57 Is he a one or is he a two?
04:59 I mean, I think in terms of what Caleb can do and his abilities,
05:03 he'll be fine at the one, but it's funny because people,
05:08 I know we're gonna talk about RJ here in a second.
05:10 People say RJ's a point guard, but- >> I found my partner in life.
05:17 Thank you for everything I'm saying.
05:22 So, jump right into RJ.
05:25 To me, I think Caleb is more come down and
05:31 shoot without even thinking about passing first.
05:33 And a lot of things people don't know is that he said during, I think it was,
05:40 a slam, I believe I was watching, that he felt that was what's holding him back.
05:46 People not knowing what position to put him in.
05:48 So, please just talk about RJ and him being potentially a Carolina fan.
05:53 >> Now, I don't wanna get Carolina fans too riled up and excited when I say this,
05:56 but RJ is kind of that Trey Young mode where he can really knock shots down,
06:03 he can facilitate, he's a wizard with the ball.
06:07 He's a New York kid, so kinda like Cole,
06:09 he has that swagger to him where he feels invincible.
06:12 So, but to me, me personally, he's probably my favorite player in the class,
06:19 just because I like guards and are really shifty and can change direction,
06:23 knock shots down.
06:24 So, RJ's gonna be a fan favorite for the Tar Heel Nation, so.
06:28 >> Now, the last couple, other than Puff, do you believe that Caleb and
06:33 RJ are just one to dance?
06:34 We just need to enjoy them for the season.
06:36 >> I'll say Caleb is probably one and done.
06:43 RJ, it depends how much freedom he gets in the offense.
06:48 I think if Roy let's him do his thing kinda like he's done in the last few years,
06:53 it's a very good possibility.
06:55 >> Okay, and let's go to Georgia with Walker Kessler,
07:02 seven feet, who can shoot.
07:03 [LAUGH] He's not your stay under the basket, score and then run back.
07:08 He is your stretch five.
07:11 Do we give him that?
07:12 So just tell us a little bit about Walker Kessler.
07:15 >> So Walker's like the, he's like the X Factor in the class, I think, in Carolina.
07:19 He's not a traditional Carolina big.
07:21 Cuz one thing I like to do when I look at classes with Carolina,
07:24 I try to compare them to recent classes or classes of old.
07:28 And I can't remember a stretch five at Carolina.
07:32 Tyler kinda was like a free throw line extended type guy, Tyler Zeller.
07:36 But I can't really think of anybody else outside of that.
07:38 So just for me, imagining Walker's role in Carolina, when they come down and
07:42 run a secondary break, they swing the ball back to the top of the key.
07:45 Walker's gonna let, he's gonna let it fly.
07:47 So I think in today's game, the way the game is changing,
07:51 I think that's a perfect fit for Carolina in terms of having guys on the floor that
07:56 can stretch the floor for more space and for guys like RJ and Caleb to do what they do.
08:01 So I think Walker's gonna be really good at Carolina.
08:04 I think a lot of people are like, well, why would he go when De'Ron's coming and
08:08 Armando's still there?
08:09 I mean, no, history's shown,
08:11 Roy has done really well when he has multiple bigs.
08:14 >> Yeah, and I always tell people, Marvin came off the bench with a second round pick.
08:19 >> Yep.
08:20 >> So I mean, it's possible.
08:23 >> It can be done.
08:24 >> Let's go into Curtin Lebo.
08:28 I kind of want to save North Carolina for last.
08:31 Let's not do North Carolina.
08:33 Okay, let's go to Curtin Walton.
08:34 He's late in the game.
08:36 I thought he was gonna stay home.
08:39 I just knew he was gonna go to Mizzou.
08:41 So talk about Curtin Walton and what he brings into North Carolina.
08:46 Because I personally think he's not your one and done.
08:49 I think he's here for a couple years.
08:51 >> Yeah, I'm gonna be honest with you, Curtin broke my heart.
08:54 My nephew is going to play Georgetown this year, the grad transfer.
08:58 And he was recruiting Curlin, felt like we had a good chance to get him.
09:02 But when he went to Carolina, I was like, I can't be mad at that.
09:07 But Curlin was another guy that fits that mold for Carolina.
09:09 That's a knockdown shooter, sorry, let me go up and stop the game, there we go, sorry.
09:13 He's a knockdown shooter, you hear me?
09:16 >> Yeah, I hear you.
09:17 >> Cool, he's a knockdown shooter.
09:18 And I mean, that's what Carolina desperately needs.
09:21 Last year, they didn't have a guy that could consistently knock down shots
09:24 outside of B-Robin.
09:25 He stayed hurt a lot last year, so it hurt.
09:28 So I think Rory really hit the ground running this year, getting guys like Puff
09:32 and getting guys like Curlin that can knock shots down.
09:34 So I would think Curlin kind of fits that Kenny Williams type mold,
09:38 late recruit like Kenny, come in and knock shots down, play defense.
09:42 And just be an all time great four year doctor, you know?
09:46 >> Okay, now let's talk about Crayton Lebo.
09:51 His father played at Carolina, his father and his father's footsteps.
09:55 It seems like we're getting a lot of that this year, especially with Drake committing,
10:00 following Luke and Mark, and I believe his mom actually went to Carolina.
10:04 So we're getting a lot of legacy of Carolina as of late.
10:07 So just talk about what Lebo brings to the team.
10:11 >> So I had the pleasure of watching Crayton probably the last couple years.
10:15 He transferred to Greenfield School, which is in my hometown, Wilson.
10:17 So I've watched him a lot.
10:20 Crayton's a guy that if you need him for like five minutes to come in and
10:24 knock shots down and play hard, Crayton is gonna be that guy.
10:28 I know he's coming in as a walk on, but
10:30 make no mistake about Crayton is a Division I basketball player.
10:34 I think he had opportunity to go to other Division I schools.
10:37 But following your dad's footsteps, going to a school that your dad went,
10:41 I mean, that's hard to turn down, you know?
10:43 >> It is.
10:45 >> So Crayton's gonna be a guy that, obviously, he'll be a good four year guy.
10:48 But I think he'll be one of those fan favorites as well once he gets in the game.
10:51 You'll see, okay, this kid's a little more talented than maybe some of our
10:54 traditional walk on players.
10:56 >> Right, awesome.
10:58 All right, and of course, another one of my favorites, Daymont.
11:02 >> Same.
11:03 >> Like, listen.
11:04 [LAUGH]
11:06 When I watch his highlights, and I'm just like,
11:10 boy is gonna have such a difficult time.
11:13 It's gonna be difficult and amazing at the same time, too.
11:18 Maneuver so many lineups that could be perfect.
11:21 And no one could probably see coming.
11:25 That's the beauty that he just has his way this year.
11:29 So tell me about the beauty of Dayron's shirt.
11:33 >> So Dayron, for me, Dayron is like, that's that one for me.
11:36 I have known Dayron for some years now, known his family, great family.
11:41 Dayron's a kid just goes and gets it.
11:44 Every single year, he's gotten consistently better and better and better.
11:47 Roy's got a really, really, really tough decision to make in terms of, and
11:54 it's a good problem, but in terms of who's gonna play, Armando and
11:59 Garrison coming back, and Sterling's also, I don't know where his situation is, but
12:02 it looks like he's gonna come back next year.
12:04 Then you're throwing in two five star McDonald's All-American kids,
12:08 and Dayron, man, Dayron's gonna push them every single day in practice.
12:13 His motor, his relentlessness, everything he does,
12:16 just around the realm, he just competes.
12:19 And that's the type of kid that Carolina needed a program just for,
12:23 for not even this year, but a few years to come as well, too.
12:26 I just love this class overall, the foundation they built.
12:29 It kinda reminds me of that Theo and Joel class, with Justin Jackson.
12:33 It built that foundation for them to make a title run the next few years.
12:37 So Dayron's, wow, that's gonna be,
12:42 I'm pretty sure Roy's looking at his chops right now.
12:45 >> So if you are Roy, and it's, I'm not even gonna pitch me that type of game.
12:53 So just in general, you're Roy right now, and you're figuring out, all right,
12:57 beginning of the season, where do you go?
13:01 Like where do you start?
13:02 Who do you start?
13:03 >> So well, we know Roy loves seniors, and
13:07 he loves guys that's getting there off the program, things like that.
13:10 So obviously, you plug Garrison in before.
13:14 Now at the five, I think you kinda battle a lot between Armando and
13:18 Dayron and Walker, and see, let the best man win.
13:21 Now can Armando accept that?
13:25 He was in McDonald's All-American as well, too.
13:27 So can he accept that role, come off the bench?
13:30 Which I don't know if that's gonna happen or not, but
13:32 that's a tough decision to have.
13:37 >> And I mean, who else are you plugging in?
13:39 Like what's the rest of your line?
13:40 >> All right, so my starting five is gonna be, I'm gonna go RJ, excuse me,
13:45 Caleb at the one.
13:46 >> What the heck?
13:48 We just discussed Caleb is at the two, and now you-
13:50 >> I know, I know.
13:52 I think Roy's just gonna put him at the one.
13:54 Like I think he'll put him at the one.
13:56 I think Lee, he'll be at the three, for sure.
14:02 He'll start with you at the three.
14:03 >> He has no competition.
14:05 >> Right, right, he'll start with you at the three.
14:10 You know he might, matter of fact, we'll say RJ and Caleb in the back.
14:14 We'll just say they're back.
14:15 >> Okay, okay, okay, okay.
14:17 >> And then we'll go Leakey, Garrison, and I'm gonna go De'Ron.
14:21 >> I'm not gonna argue with you.
14:24 >> [LAUGH] >> I'm not.
14:26 Like the only two people you can really guarantee is Leakey and Garrison.
14:33 >> I think Armando has some competition this year.
14:36 And I really think coach is gonna go with the person who wants it the most.
14:41 >> Mm-hm, I think, yeah, I do agree.
14:44 I think Armando got a little comfortable last year at times,
14:47 cuz he knew, okay, Sterling was hurt.
14:50 I mean, I love Huff, but Huff was a reserve big, so he knew he had to play.
14:55 So I don't think he always gave it the maximum effort that he needed to.
14:58 So now, you sure you got two guys behind you that, hey, they're five stars.
15:02 So let's see what you got.
15:04 >> I think the moment that I knew that I wanted more from Armando was when
15:09 the Duke game and he was like that he knew that they were gonna lose even though
15:15 they were up by 13, I think, that was kind of heartbreaking.
15:20 And I get it, the season was tough, but that type of tall, it shouldn't even fester.
15:28 >> Yeah, especially when you're playing Duke.
15:29 No, absolutely not.
15:30 >> Especially when you're playing Duke.
15:32 So I think, yeah, he has some competition.
15:36 >> I agree.
15:37 >> And I honestly think Armando's gonna wind up coming off the bench.
15:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]
15:42 >> I agree, De'Ron's that good.
15:45 >> Yeah, okay, so let's start a little bit with 2021.
15:52 We don't have any commits up in Don Tres, but Don Tres is special in his own.
15:58 He's Coach Williams first commit of 2021 and
16:02 he's from the capital of basketball in North Carolina.
16:08 So before we dive into what makes Carolina special,
16:12 just tell me a little bit about Don Tres.
16:14 I've seen his highlights going against De'Ron.
16:17 Just what should I know about Don Tres coming in next year?
16:22 What would make me go to one of his senior games coming up?
16:26 >> Well, so first of all, we gotta get you to the John Wall holiday
16:29 invitational this year.
16:30 Don Tres will definitely be there, so we gotta get you in the building for that.
16:34 Don Tres is just that hybrid forward that Carolina needs.
16:39 He kind of puts you in the mode of that Harrison Barnes type.
16:42 Not as polished as Harrison was, but in terms of skill set,
16:46 they're really, really similar.
16:47 Athletic guys who can knock a mid-range shot down, can knock a three down, and
16:51 they can defend their tails off.
16:53 Don Tres is a kid that he's just a relentless worker.
16:56 When Don Tres was a freshman, he's more like a four or five type.
17:00 He really couldn't handle the ball, couldn't put on the floor,
17:02 things like that.
17:03 He just progressively got better every single year.
17:07 Even this year in the John Wall, he played against Moravian Prep Open game
17:11 against Josh Hall and Shaquille Moore, those guys, that super team they had.
17:15 He had 30 points and was like 11 for 14 for the field.
17:18 That was in front of the coaching staff.
17:20 So I think when they saw that, they were like, okay, Don Tres is a guy that we
17:25 really can kind of hang our hat on in terms of just recruiting class.
17:29 That's getting off in a big way.
17:31 I really feel like this summer, had they played AAU this summer,
17:34 Don Tres would have been in the top 25, 30 in the country.
17:36 >> Mm-hm.
17:37 >> Okay, so this isn't the first Carolina player coming from Kinston.
17:44 >> [LAUGH] >> And it probably will not be the last.
17:48 What makes- >> Correct.
17:50 >> Because I don't know if, not many people in North Carolina have been to
17:54 Kinston, I get it.
17:55 Other than going to see basketball.
17:57 >> [LAUGH] >> But I went to East Carolina, so
18:02 Kinston was right up the street.
18:03 So I mean, I've been to Kinston.
18:05 So what makes Kinston so special?
18:08 >> It's just the tradition.
18:12 They put out, it was a crazy stat that was out today on Twitter that one in
18:17 every 58 basketball players that played at Kinston High School played in the NBA.
18:24 That is an absurd number.
18:26 And the mathematics actually got broken down by that Brian Hanks,
18:30 he's like their play-by-play guy there.
18:31 So he broke it down.
18:32 It's literally one in every 58 players.
18:34 It's just this tradition, it seems like every three or
18:38 four years you hear about, hey, Kinston's got another one.
18:40 I'm just like, how?
18:42 There's like 15,000 people in Kinston.
18:44 And it's like- >> [LAUGH]
18:48 >> Exactly, so
18:49 you're like, how do they keep getting people?
18:52 I remember, I've known Brandon Ingram since he was in the third grade.
18:57 Brandon was probably, he was probably pushing six foot then.
19:00 He was just like, you saw him in the seventh, eighth grade,
19:04 you saw about he's next up.
19:05 He was after Reggie, and then you see Don Transit,
19:09 it's just like, what are they gonna do next?
19:11 So somebody told me, this is true.
19:13 There's a fifth grader in Kinston right now that they say he's next up.
19:16 >> He's in the middle of the school days right now, Kinston.
19:20 >> Right, right, so it's just, it's literally something in the water,
19:25 literally, I don't know what it is.
19:27 It's crazy because Kinston has, the size of the population has dwindled so
19:31 much over the years because they lost jobs and things like that, plants are closed,
19:34 and things like that.
19:35 So a lot of people have left, but they still, they're trying out, how major guys?
19:39 >> So you work for Hoop State Network, and it is paying homage to,
19:46 of course, North Carolina being a hoop state.
19:49 Explain exactly what hoop state means and
19:53 what qualifies North Carolina to be the hoop state.
19:56 >> So I mean, for us, when I talk about a hoop state, I always tell it,
20:02 literally, we have everybody that you can possibly think of that's
20:07 from North Carolina, that's rooted in North Carolina.
20:09 I mean, obviously, starting with Michael Jordan,
20:11 we could just end the conversation there, but-
20:12 >> That's where his story starts,
20:14 in North Carolina.
20:16 >> Right, so we could end it there, but there's just so many guys.
20:19 I mean, you had the David Thompson's, Pistol Pete, I mean, Dominique Wilkins.
20:23 Then you just go on and on to, then you get to John Wall era, and then you got,
20:28 it's just so many people.
20:30 So for us, our mission is to kind of just shed a light and, so to say,
20:35 give flowers to the players that deserve recognition.
20:38 And we feel like, in our mind, that we can put our guy, we can take our best ten guys
20:42 in the hoop state right here and go up against any state in the country, and we win.
20:46 Like, we got, I mean, two guys in the hoop state this year,
20:49 one's going to the NBA draft, another one is in the G League program, Isaiah Todd.
20:55 So I think in the last probably 15 years,
21:01 North Carolina's had to make Donald's All-American every year except one.
21:04 So just to think, put that in perspective, like, the amount of talent.
21:08 I mean, look at NBA rosters now,
21:09 there's so many guys from North Carolina that are in the NBA right now.
21:13 It's amazing.
21:14 >> It is, and like we were discussing before we started,
21:20 can North Carolina put themselves up against New York,
21:26 being one of the best places- >> Absolutely,
21:29 the reason I say is because we play basketball here in North Carolina.
21:32 We don't just dribble, dribble, dribble and do a million moves.
21:35 >> We have a show right there, it's real life.
21:37 >> Right, we hoop down here in North Carolina.
21:40 We can go to New York and put on a show, but no, I think, yeah,
21:45 we'll put our best five or ten up against New York and we'd win the series, we sweep.
21:50 >> You know what, and I'm actually gonna put that challenge out there.
21:52 Like, I'm gonna tweet it to you or DM it to you.
21:56 >> Yeah.
21:57 >> To put the top five best guys to come out of New York up against the top five
22:01 best to come out of North Carolina, and if we could win.
22:05 >> We'll do it, yeah, let's do that.
22:06 They'll probably say- >> I think it's really good, like-
22:10 >> Right, right.
22:11 They'll probably try to take Michael Jordan because he's boring.
22:13 >> I think he's gonna be better than that point.
22:15 >> Right.
22:16 >> Like Kenny Anderson, he has to be on that list, it's automatically.
22:20 >> Kenny Anderson, Marbury, they'll probably try to take Jordan because he's
22:25 boring there, but no, he's not, no, he's- >> Absolutely.
22:30 >> We can't all take Jordan alone.
22:32 >> [LAUGH] Right.
22:34 >> All right, so, Rod, how can we follow you and
22:38 keep up with you and the Hoop State network?
22:41 And first of all, because I think college ball starts in high school.
22:47 If you wanna know these players,
22:49 you have got to start following high school recruiting in this high school.
22:53 So with Hoop State shining light on that, please tell us how to watch,
22:57 where to watch, and how to stay plugged in with you guys.
23:02 >> Cool, so yeah, so first of all, just definitely follow us on all our social
23:06 media platforms.
23:06 It's our Hoop State network on Instagram, thehoopstate on Twitter.
23:12 We're all over the place there, so just definitely check us out there.
23:15 For myself, I'm rod_bridgers on Twitter, and
23:17 then rodbridgers, all one word, on Instagram.
23:19 So yeah, definitely, like I said, we're just trying to give kids a positive light
23:25 and shine a light on them and show people and other coaches around the country that,
23:29 hey, we got a lot of talent here, so come check it out.
23:32 So and it's really been doing well.
23:33 A lot of kids have flourished just because they might have watched our games
23:38 on stream or they might have watched the video.
23:40 So yeah, that's what we do.
23:42 >> Awesome, well, again, thank you so much for your time and your expertise.
23:47 And I'm gonna be connecting that New York versus North Carolina list.
23:51 >> Absolutely, listen, I also wanna tell you congratulations on your position with
23:54 SI as well.
23:56 Me personally, I'm proud of you just off the sense of we're both in the same
24:00 business and we're people of color.
24:04 And sometimes that's hard to kind of get where we need to get.
24:06 So keep going, keep working hard.
24:08 Like I said, we're all on the same team, so I'm proud of you.
24:11 >> That makes my heart just swell up, looking up, I can't take it.
24:15 Just talk it off, bye.
24:17 Thank you so much, and we will see you guys next time.
24:21 >> Bye.
24:21 [MUSIC]