How a promise to Dean Smith brought former basketball player Vasco Evtimov back to UNC

Posted Feb 18, 2019
In the summer of 1999, Vasco Evtimov had just forfeited his last two years of college eligibility to sign with a Greek professional team over returning to UNC. Before the 6-foot-10 Evtimov left Chapel Hill, though, he spoke with Dean Smith, who recruited Evtimov and coached him as a freshman. “I promised Coach Smith...I would come back and get my degree. And here I am." (Daily Tar Heel)

Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Decision Time For Henri Veesaar
The NBA Draft Early Entry deadline is Friday at 11:59 PM ET and still we haven't heard any news about Henri Veesaar's NBA draft decision...
Fri Apr 24, 2026

Why UNC’s Michael Malone hire is no Bill Belichick rerun
Given the way UNC’s football coaching search played out, many compared basketball coach Michael Malone’s hiring to Bill Belichick’s. On the surface, the comparison makes...
Fri Apr 24, 2026

Carolina Insider Podcast: Stories from the "Seth Trimble shot" win over Duke
It's a "Feel Good Friday" with fan stories from the "Seth Trimble shot" basketball victory over Duke (and we empty the postcard cache) on Friday's...
Fri Apr 24, 2026

Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar have risen in some NBA mock drafts
NBA Draft projections show why there was never a question about whether Caleb Wilson would enter the draft and why Henri Veesaar has a tough...
Thu Apr 23, 2026