Dean Smith, beyond the Medal of Freedom

Posted Sep 12, 2013
Dean Smith recruited UNC's first black scholarship athlete, a basketball player named Charles Scott, who said years later that one thing he liked about Smith was that he always showed him respect by calling him “Charles” instead of Charlie. And so Dean Smith, coach of coaches, is deserving of the latest high honor not just for wins and losses, but for being a man of conviction and humanity, who didn’t just talk about freedom but fought for it. (Raleigh News & Observer)

Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting

UNC fans rush Franklin Street after Seth Trimble's late 3-pointer secures comeback win vs. Duke
Thousands of North Carolina fans rushed Franklin Street on Saturday after the Tar Heels' 71-68 comeback win against Duke. UNC guard Seth Trimble hit a...
Sun Feb 8, 2026

UNC Fined For Court Storming Following Win Over Duke
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced on Sunday that the University of North Carolina has been fined for violation of the league's event security policy at...
Sun Feb 8, 2026

North Carolina vs. Duke Postgame Quotes
Hubert Davis on Seth Trimble's game-winning shot: "He was the one. That shot was made by the perfect person at the right time. He's deserving...
Sun Feb 8, 2026

Caleb Wilson And Henri Veesaar's Tag-Team Performance Powers UNC's Comeback Over Duke
UNC’s prize frontcourt played what can only be described as a tag-team takeover on Saturday night, with Caleb Wilson supplying 17 points in the first...
Sun Feb 8, 2026