Two games into his UNC career, Maximo Adams has already checked off a major milestone.
The freshman forward posted 11 points and 11 rebounds in the Tar Heels’ 109-70 win over Wofford on Friday night, giving him his first career double-double in a Carolina uniform. He led UNC in rebounds off the bench and did it in just his second college game.
Adams had already flashed plenty of promise in Monday’s season-opening win over Western Carolina, when he scored 10 points in 18 minutes as a reserve. He went 3-for-5 from the field, knocked down two 3-pointers and added four rebounds in that one.
Friday’s performance showed even more of what he can bring. Adams grabbed seven rebounds in the first half alone, including two on the offensive glass, as UNC took control early. With eight minutes left in the second half, he had already secured the double-double.
That kind of production is exactly why he’s being watched so closely. UNC’s roster has been reshaped, with a new head coach, several transfers and a group of talented freshmen all trying to settle into roles. Adams has wasted no time making his case for a bigger one.
Two games in, he’s scored in double figures twice and shown that his value goes far beyond scoring. The energy, rebounding and activity have stood out every time he’s stepped on the floor.
Adams was a highly touted recruit for a reason, and he’s starting to show why. If these first two outings are any indication, UNC may have found a freshman who can become a major piece of what Michael Malone is building.
In Other News...
UNC Just Lost A Key Path To Cameron Fens Help
The latest legal turn around college basketball eligibility has put Cameron Fens in a precarious spot, and North Carolina is watching closely. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and vacated the nationwide injunction in Wisne v. NCAA, a ruling that had been part of the broader fight over fifth-year players seeking another season of eligibility.
For Fens, the impact is immediate because he is still tied up in a separate Tennessee case, where the state Court of Appeals stayed his injunction and left him ineligible for now. His path back onto the court now hinges entirely on how that Tennessee lawsuit plays out, leaving UNC with one fewer avenue for help and another unresolved eligibility question hanging over the roster. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Got A Real Shot At A Five-Star Guard
Brady Pettigrews recruitment is starting to take shape, and North Carolina is firmly in the mix. The five-star guard has trimmed his list to 10 programs, putting the Tar Heels alongside a heavy group that includes Duke, Kentucky, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and others, and he recently wrapped up an official visit to Chapel Hill.
Pettigrew is currently ranked No. 9 overall in the Class of 2028, which already makes him one of the most coveted guards in the country. There is also growing speculation that he could reclassify into an earlier class, a possibility that would only heighten the urgency around his recruitment, even if no decision has been confirmed yet. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Delivered The Response Fans Needed After Early Criticism
After an uneven opener, North Carolina answered with the kind of complete effort fans had been waiting to see, rolling past Wofford 109-70 in its second game of the season. The Tar Heels looked far more connected on both ends, and the box score reflected it, with five players finishing in double figures and Terrence Brown pacing the way with 21 points.
Maximo Adams added a double-double as UNC controlled the glass and showed the depth that had been missing a game earlier. It was the sort of response that does not erase early questions, but it does give the Tar Heels a much better baseline to build from as the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]