Couldn’t make it out to Late Night with Roy? The Daily Tar Heel has you covered with the highlights from Friday night’s festivities.
- A significant number of people came out to the Smith Center for the event, even filling the upper bowl of the arena. The North Carolina men's basketball team's top ranking in numerous preseason polls likely contributed to this, as well as a ceremony held to honor the late Stuart Scott.
- Speaking of Scott, ESPN anchor Sage Steele and Jones Angell — the play-by-play announcer for UNC men's basketball and football — came out to halfcourt to honor the famed ESPN broadcaster and UNC graduate who died in January from cancer. Steele, an Indiana graduate, told a story about Scott honoring a bet with her when UNC lost to Indiana in 2012. She donned a Carolina Blue jersey and teared up as she talked about her former colleague.
- Scott’s two daughters, Taelor and Sydni, received a Tar Heel Trailblazer Award for their father and a long standing ovation from the crowd. Finally, Scott’s former fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, performed a step routine to honor him, which Coach Roy Williams later said was his favorite part of the evening.
- The women’s basketball team made its first appearance since losing three scholarship players this offseason due to transfer. With only eight players on scholarship entering the season, the Tar Heels are using a mix of first-years, transfers and players from out-of-the-ordinary places, like the UNC rowing team, to fill out the roster.
- The men's basketball team capped the night with the annual Blue/White scrimmage, which the White team won 41-32 behind a strong performance by Isaiah Hicks. Hicks continued what many have said has been the most impressive offseason performance on the team. He scored 14 points (unofficially) and added a steal during the scrimmage.
- First-years Luke Maye and Kenny Williams saw their first action in a UNC uniform. Maye scored four points, two of which came on a nifty hook shot in the lane. Williams scored on a step-back jumper and kept the ball moving quickly along the perimeter.
- Stilman White exhibited just how deep the Tar Heels are this season. The likely fourth-string point guard had six points, three assists and a steal.
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