When Donald Williams played for North Carolina from 1991 to 1995, he often looked to the rafters at the Smith Center, stared at the honored jerseys hanging there, "and just used them as a reminder of the great guys who played before me and how I wanted to play, too."
The fact that his No. 21 will soon join those jerseys -- and perhaps be used by future Tar Heels for inspiration -- "just makes me so proud."
Williams, a 6-foot-3 guard who was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1993 Final Four when he was a sophomore, never thought he'd see his jersey raised. Until recently, a player had to be a first- or second-team All-American, an Olympic gold medalist or the MVP of a national championship team (as voted on by the squad) to have his number honored (which, unlike retired jerseys, means the number can still be worn by a current player).
However, coach Roy Williams approached athletic director Dick Baddour about adding "Final Four MOP" and "ACC Player of the Year" to the list of criteria. That will allow Donald Williams and Wayne Ellington (No. 22, the MOP of last season's Final Four) to have their jerseys memorialized sometime this season, as well as those of Ty Lawson (No. 5) and Tyler Hansbrough (who will have his No. 50 retired).
"When Coach Williams approached me at the alumni game and told me, I just couldn't believe it," said Williams, who now coaches the girls basketball team at Raleigh's St. Mary's school. "Over the years, I've had a lot of people come up to me and ask, 'Why aren't you up there?' Now, I'm just overwhelmed ... and I really think it's also a tribute to that '93 team."
Williams, a Garner native, said he has no regrets about returning to school after scoring 25 points against Kansas, then another 25 against Michigan, to help the Tar Heels win the NCAA title in 1993.
His final two years were marred by injuries, which ultimately scuttled his NBA hopes. But he spent more than a decade playing overseas, globetrotting from Germany to Greece to France to Spain to Sweden to Finland to South America and winning three more championships.
"You've just got to think that everything happens for a reason," said Williams, who has three daughters. "I couldn't control [getting an] injury, and who knows -- if I had gone to the NBA, I might have gotten injured there, too. Sure, you think about the money, but money isn't everything.
"... I always wanted to get my degree, and I did that. And my life has been a dream come true, being able to play professionally, being able to coach."
And now, knowing that his jersey will hang amongst the other Tar Heels greats is like the cherry on top of it all.
"I'm going to be nervous when it happens, I know I'm going to have goose bumps, and it's just going to bring back all the great memories of that '93 team," he said. "
Hope for N.C. State
For all of the excitement at Duke about fifth-ranked prospect Kyrie Irving's commitment and top-ranked prospect Harrison Barnes' official visit -- there was plenty to be hopeful about at N.C. State, too.
Lorenzo Brown, who was supposed to lead the Wolfpack's backcourt this season but ended up at Hargrave Military Academy when he didn't qualify academically, began his season by recording a triple double (26 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists) Wednesday night during a scrimmage against Oak Hill.
And he still can't wait to bring that talent to the Wolfpack in 2010-11
"Everybody knew I wasn't going [to another school]," Brown told Scout.com recruiting analyst Dave Telep of his pledge to N.C. State. "They never gave up on me. They knew I had grade problems since I first started high school. They never gave up."
That means Pack fans shouldn't give up, either.
Without Brown, ranked the sixth-best shooting guard prospect by Scout.com and the star of coach Sidney Lowe's recruiting class, it's going to be a rough season in Raleigh -- especially since freshman Richard Howell's left knee surgery could keep him out of the season opener, at least.
But if Lowe can hold onto his job -- and the recommitment by Brown certainly helps -- there should be something to cheer about next season. After all, Lowe already has commitments from five-star point guard Ryan Harrow and four-star power forward Luke Cothron.
And a year at Hargrave gives Brown another season to improve his skills.
"If you had to single out one individual who stood out the most, it was Lorenzo Brown," All-Star sports recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons said of the Hargrave-Oak Hill scrimmage, "and he did it in a variety of ways -- not only as a scorer, but an excellent passer, [he] made good decisions, played defense. He rebounded.
"... With Ryan Harrow coming in next year [at State], I think they can combine -- Ryan is more of a pure point, where Lorenzo can be a scoring point. State, if they had him [Brown] this year, they would be a deeper, stronger team, but they just have to wait a year and hope he gets his academics in order."
Dribbles
The ACC's coaches and players will meet with the media in Greensboro today, and the preseason accolades will be voted upon. My picks:
Preseason player of the year: Greivis Vasquez, Maryland
Preseason rookie of the year: Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech
Preseason All-ACC: Vasquez, Maryland; Kyle Singler, Duke; Trevor Booker, Clemson; Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech; Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest
Staff writer Ken Tysiac contributed to this report.
