The 6-foot-9 sophomore forward also came a long way on the court last weekend, improving his game by miles in two NCAA Tournament victories.

A front-line reserve, Stepheson shed his gentle off-court demeanor, showed an attack mentality and, along with Deon Thompson, helped give top-seeded UNC much-needed production at power forward.

In blowout wins over Mount St. Mary's and Arkansas, he played a total of 36 minutes, contributed 22 points and 15 rebounds and made 10 of 16 field-goal attempts.

"I'm getting more confidence, trying to get a little momentum; it's tournament time," said Stepheson, who hopes to sustain that level of play in the East Regional beginning Thursday against Washington State in Charlotte.

In more than one way, Stepheson is a man on a mission, hankering to atone for a disappointing performance in the ACC Tournament at Charlotte two weeks ago.

The laid-back Californian was challenged by coach Roy Williams to raise his game. But challenges are not novel to Stepheson, who last season was a homesick freshman who averaged 6.4 minutes and 2.1 points per game.

This season the stress mounted due to a family illness. In January, Stepheson flew home to spend a week with his father, Art, who has heart-related issues.

"I wanted to check on him, see how things were going,'' Stepheson said. "[Now] he's doing a lot better."

Word was rampant at the time that Stepheson would transfer, but he said "transferring was never an issue."

His mother, Diane, said this week that Stepheson "still worries about his father," who taught him basketball and helped groom him into a blue-chip prospect.

The elder Stepheson attended a few UNC home games in February and plans to be in San Antonio if the Tar Heels reach the Final Four.

Along with Diane, Art follows Carolina on TV and watches each game several more times on tape. He also talks with Alex daily, encouraging his son to "keep working hard."

Art says Alex is running the floor better, learning to play more soundly on defense, eschewing the urge to go for as many blocked shots as he did in high school.

It was Art, a former college player, who coached Alex in youth leagues from age 3 1/2 until he got to Harvard-West Lake High in Los Angeles.

His breakout performance came when he was the only fifth-grader playing on his dad's middle school team. Diane recalls the time Alex forgot his jersey, missed the first half, and found his team trailing by 20 points.

Driving at fast-break speed, mom Stepheson got the jersey to the gym before the second half started -- in time for Alex to suit up, score 27 points and lead a comeback win.

"He has never been a problem for us,'' Diane said. "He was always a pleasant young man and responsible."

Stepheson also was a big hit with younger kids at basketball camps. Away from the court, he follows stock car racing and professional wrestling and has become a video-game junkie, specializing in Halo 2.

"Probably the best on the team," Stepheson said of his video skills. "Ty [Lawson is] not bad. Marc Campbell is pretty good at it."

Campbell scoffed at Stepheson's rating system.

"Alex can't hold a candle to me,'' Campbell cracked with a smile. "If you want to have fun, Alex is your guy. I'm more trying to win. I'm the champ."

The video playoff can wait. Now the Tar Heels are trying to become the national champs in basketball, a big reason Stepheson said he chose Carolina over home-area schools UCLA and Southern California.

And now he's playing like a big man after the big trophy.

Against Arkansas, Stepheson blocked a shot and triggered a transition basket. He scored on a follow shot. He dunked. He hit jump hooks, a mid-range jumper and Sunday got a standing ovation from the UNC crowd at the RBC Center.

"I came to [Carolina] to win a national championship," said Stepheson, a shining moment he hopes to share with his his Dad and Mom on April 7.