The Freshmen

Posted Apr 7, 2007

North Carolina's Mike O'Koren works in the NBA as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. Charlotte's Chad Kinch's life ended early when he died from AIDS in 1994 at age 35. In 1977, O'Koren and Kinch were two Jersey kids, precocious freshmen who had huge impacts on their teams' drive to the Final Four. (Charlotte Observer)

Related: Basketball, Tar Heels in the NBA

Michael Malone brings fire and ice to Chapel Hill
On Nov. 27, 2018, the Denver Nuggets hosted the Los Angeles Lakers. Michael Malone was three seasons into his coaching tenure with the Nuggets and...
Fri Oct 23, 2026

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Fixing UNC Basketball's Weaknesses
UNC Basketball faces tough questions after Indiana exposed weaknesses in rebounding, turnovers, and backcourt consistency. Can Michael Malone’s squad fix these issues before the regular...
Fri Oct 23, 2026

A workhorse and a journeyman, Angelo Brizzi’s competitiveness compels his play
It’s the bow on his college career. The final page. The closing curtain. Whatever you call it, this is it. Five teams, five seasons, four...
Fri Oct 23, 2026

Video: Justin Jackson On UNC Basketball, Roy Williams, Hubert Davis, New Arena, And More
Justin Jackson, whose No. 44 hangs from the Smith Center rafters, joined the “Tar Heel Tribune Podcast” to talk about this season’s UNC basketball team,...
Fri Oct 23, 2026