Michael Malone adds son of famed UNC alum, NBA champion to roster next year
The NBA champion coach is keeping the family approach in Chapel Hill.
Michael Malone adds son of famed UNC alum, NBA champion to roster next year originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . When Michael Malone was announced as the next head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program, there was one name he mentioned a few different times.
While Kenny Smith wasn't initially viewed as being the insider to get the NBA champion coach to Chapel Hill, "The Jet" played a critical role in making it happen. The former ESPN co-worker of Malone set him on the right track, and opened the door many thought was open for a few others with less experience. However, UNC got the right coach at the right time, who hasn't been out of the NBA for an extended period of time.
Malone has already hit the ground running and making the best of his opportunity. UNC is the only campus in America with both a Super Bowl-winning coach in Bill Belichick and an NBA Championship-winning coach in Malone. This shows the Tar Heels athletic department is taking the right step to further prepare for the depths of the NIL era.
As for Smith, the UNC legend focuses on his analyst role on Inside The NBA, but will be around the program with his son, Malloy, reaffirming his commitment this week. The original recruit, under Hubert Davis, will stay put with Malone now establishing his roots in the college game. More: UNC Tar Heels Basketball transfer portal tracker live updates, news on commits Smith, a 6-foot-5 combo guard from Mater Dei in Santa Ana (Calif.