Chansky’s Notebook: Only the Good Die Young

Posted May 19, 2022
Ademola Okulaja is remembered most as a great teammate. Tragically, another former UNC basketball player has died unexpectedly. The 6-9 Okulaja, who started for four seasons during the Dean Smith-Bill Guthridge eras, passed away at age 46 from a recurring cancer. He knew he wasn’t the most talented player on the court, but no one outworked him. (Chapelboro.com)

Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting

Art’s Angle: Not Good Enough
Three nights after Hubert Davis’ team was outscored 11-3 in the closing minutes, the UNC coach was asked how it could possibly be guilty of...
Sun Jan 18, 2026

UNC Men's Basketball moves up in NET rankings after Quad 1 loss at Cal
The NET rankings can be confounding, but that was good for UNC after it lost a second Quad 1 game in California. The Tar Heels’...
Sun Jan 18, 2026

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Interview With Former UNC Basketball Walk-On Jackson Watkins
Jackson Watkins secures his place in UNC Basketball history with clutch "biscuit" buckets in the Smith Center. From draining a free throw in front of...
Sun Jan 18, 2026

UNC Basketball memories of first game at Smith Center might surprise some Tar Heels
It’s been 40 years since UNC Basketball played its first game at the Smith Center. On Jan. 18, 1986, the No. 1 Tar Heels had...
Sun Jan 18, 2026