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UNC offers Zeller Scholarship

Carolina has offered as scholarship to Washington, Indiana center Tyler Zeller. Zeller is a 6-11 215 pound big man, and is considered one of the top big men in the class of 2008. Zeller is currently ranked as the #16 player overall in the class of 2008, and ranked as the fourth best center in the class according to rivals.com. Nine schools are competing for the Indiana center: Indiana, North Carolina, Purdue, Notre Dame, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Kansas.

Latest NBA Mock Draft

Here's nbadraft.net's latest mock draft.

1. Portland- Greg Oden 7-0 250 C Ohio St. Fr.
2. Seattle- Kevin Durant 6-10 220 SF Texas Fr.
3. Atlanta-
Brandan Wright 6-10 210 PF UNC Fr.
4. Memphis- Yi Jianlian 7-0 242 PF China 1984
5. Boston- Al Horford 6-9 245 PF Florida Jr.
6. Milwaukee- Jeff Green 6-8 235 SF Georgetown Jr.
7. Minnesota- Mike Conley 6-1 180 PG Ohio St. Fr.
8. Charlotte- Corey Brewer 6-8 185 SF Florida Jr.
9. *Chicago- Joakim Noah 6-11 230 PF Florida Jr.
10. Sacramento- Julian Wright 6-8 225 SF Kansas So.
11. *Atlanta-
Spencer Hawes 6-11 250 C Wash. Fr.
12. Philadelphia- Al Thornton 6-8 220 SF/PF Florida St. Sr.
13. New Orleans- Thaddeus Young 6-8 217 SF GT Fr.
14. LA Clippers- Nick Young 6-6 200 SG USC Jr.
15. *Detroit- Javaris Crittenton 6-5 195 PG G.Tech Fr.
16. Washington- Jason Smith 7-0 240 PF Colorado St. Jr.
17. New Jersey- Josh McRoberts 6-10 240 PF Duke So.
18. Golden St.- Rudy Fernandez 6-6 172 SG Spain 1985
19. LA Lakers- Derrick Byars 6-7 225 SG/SF Vand. Sr.
20. Miami- Acie Law 6-3 195 PG Texas A&M Sr.
21. *Philadelphia- Tiago Splitter 6-11 240 PF Brazil 1985
22. *Charlotte- Marc Gasol 7-0 270 C Spain 1985
23. *New York- Daequan Cook 6-5 210 SG Ohio St. Fr.
24. *Phoenix- Marco Belinelli 6-6 200 SG Italy 1986
25. Utah- Gabe Pruitt 6-4 170 PG USC Jr.
26. Houston- Ante Tomic 7-1 237 PF/C Croatia 1987
27. Detroit- Marcus Williams 6-7 207 SG Arizona So.
28. San Antonio- Arron Afflalo 6-5 215 SG UCLA Jr.
29. Phoenix- Rodney Stuckey 6-4 205 PG E. Wash. So.
30. *Philadelphia- Alando Tucker 6-5 210 SF Wisconsin Sr.

38. Philadelphia- Reyshawn Terry 6-7 232 SF UNC Sr.

They have Brandan Wright going #3 to the Hawks, and Reyshawn Terry #38 to Philadelphia. I've heard Brandan might drop lower because of the Hawks' need of a point guard, so he may go to either Memphis or Boston. Chad Ford of ESPN even has him going as low as seventh to Minnesota. I've heard Reyshawn may go higher than projected, but I have also heard he could go later in the second round.

David Noel Interview

Current Milwaukee Buck and former Carolina basketball star David Noel returned to the Dean Dome Friday night to watch the elite prep competition at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions. Adam Powell of Carolinablue.com got an exclusive interview with the former tarheel.

What are your thoughts about the adjustment from the college game to the NBA?

It's a jump. It's definitely an adjustment. You've just got to do the best you can, and continue to improve each and every day. It's more of a mental thing, and once you get the mental part down, the skills will take care of itself.

What's the adjustment from college and having classes compared to the NBA, where you have extended road trips?

You've got so much time; all the time that you have in the NBA is ridiculous. We practice two hours a day, and after those two hours you have nothing else to do. You have to try and avoid boredom.

What are some of the things that you feel you've improved on since going to the NBA, and what are some things you're trying to get better at?

Definitely ball handling, and my jumper; things like that have definitely improved just because of the consistency of just playing basketball, and not having to go to class and things like that. You naturally tend to get better, and naturally tend to work on things that the NBA game shows you that you need to work on.

What are your thoughts about the Bucks as you are getting ready for next season?

We're right where we need to be. We have a lottery pick, and I think we also have a second round pick, so we're definitely going to get two good players. For the most part, I'm just doing my part to get better as a player, and hopefully I can continue to improve and help them out next year.

Does anyone treat you differently as a North Carolina player? Does the UNC thing stand out at all in the NBA?

Yeah; everybody always thinks we have a secret handshake, and all that type of stuff. Every time I see Raymond (Felton) or Sean (May), or even the older guys like Brendan (Haywood), and Antawn (Jamison) and Vince (Carter) and those guys. We are always talking about each other and talking to each other, so they feel like we're family, and that's exactly what we are. Everybody that has come through this program knows each other. We talk to each other on a regular basis, and it's all love when we see each other.

When you're out on the road, you guys get together and hang out?

Yes; exactly.

Coming back, what's it like to come back to the UNC campus knowing you won a national championship?

We've got a lot of pull around here, even with some of the older guys who can't say they won a national championship. It's been fun for us. It's been a great ride, and I enjoyed every minute of being here in Chapel Hill, and that's why I come back so much.

Now that you've had a year to sit back and reflect on it, what are your thoughts about your senior year? There weren't a lot of expectations, and the team overachieved perhaps as much as any UNC team in history. Now that you've had a year to think about it, what are your thoughts?

It was definitely a phenomenal year, and we definitely did a great job of overachieving, like everybody said. We were definitely a blessed team to be able to have a coach like Coach Williams, and everybody that was on the floor. So, for the most part, just reflecting back on it, it was great. I loved every minute of it, and it was one of the best times I ever had at Carolina.

What has Coach Williams imparted on you since you've gone to the NBA? Has he given you advice or anything like that?

Yeah; he's kept it straight with me the entire time. I always asked him what it was looking like for me, and if it was looking good, he'll tell me, and if it was looking bad, he'll tell me. Coach Williams was always the kind of guy who was going to give it to you straight, no matter what. That's what I appreciated about him the most, was his honesty. That's what I loved about him being my coach.

When you were growing up, did you feel like you were more likely to end up in the NFL or the NBA?

In the beginning, I thought it was going to be the NFL, but God has his own plan, and I'm just riding the wave

Larry Drew Jr. Commits to UNC

Class of 2008 prospect Larry Drew Jr. has officially commited to UNC. Drew Jr. chose Carolina over UCLA and Arizona which were also trying hard to recruit Drew. Drew is a 6"0 170 pound point guard from Woodland Hills, California. He is currently ranked #4 for point guards in the class of 2008. The son of a former NBA player, Drew needs to improve his game but could still be a good player for the heels by the 2008-2009 season.