Former North Carolina Tar Heels’ standout Theo Pinson had a successful four-year career with the program, winning a national championship and making back-to-back Final Fours.
Pinson committed to North Carolina as a five-star recruit in the 2014 class that also included Justin Jackson and Joel Berry. That class paid dividends for the Tar Heels as all three were key players in their time with the program.
But during Pinson’s recruitment, he did credit a rival coach for what was a ‘huge moment’ in his life.
On his Run Your Race podcast, Pinson told a story of a recruiting trip to Duke with Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, and Tyus Jones, Pinson was humbled a little bit by Coach K as the players were in the theater room talking. Coach K had praise for the other recruits and was brutally honest about Pinson:
“We were all sitting in this theater room,” he remembered. “He said, ‘Tyus, you’re the best point guard in the country. No doubt. Jahlil, you’re a dog…nobody’s gonna come at you. Theo, you gotta separate yourself.’ Pretty much was like, ‘There are a lot of Theo’s. You gotta find something to separate yourself from everybody else.'”
“That was a huge moment in my life.”
You can watch the clip below:
What happened on Theo’s visit to #Duke with Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones? 🤣
Via: Run Your Race @tpinsonn @_KingCozy pic.twitter.com/3h7D2W1eSk
— Tidal League (@TidalLeague) September 5, 2023
It was a humbling moment for Pinson who did find a way to separate himself not only going to North Caorlina but becoming a force on both ends of the court for the Tar Heels.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.