Jarin Stevenson absolutely went off Friday night, dropping a career-high 25 points and 10 rebounds for a nasty double-double in North Carolina’s 88-70 comeback exhibition win over USC from the old Greensboro Coliseum. The Tar Heels needed every bit of that fire, and Stevenson delivered, leading the charge in what looked like a preview of his final collegiate season.
From Tuscaloosa to Tar Heel Heartbreak, Now Redemption
Think about Stevenson’s journey for a second. This dude was a top-50 prospect in 2023, grew up rooting for UNC, but chose Alabama over his hometown team. He spent two years in Tuscaloosa, even played a role when Alabama beat UNC in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. He never quite hit his stride there, never living up to that “top-50” potential. But now, back with the team he grew up loving, he’s entering his final collegiate season, and Friday night was every indication that this is *his* year. He’s primed for a superstar breakout role, no question about it.
Stevenson’s Mindset and Game-High Numbers
Stevenson didn’t just score, he dominated the stat sheet for 31 minutes, a game-high. He put up those 25 points on an efficient 8-of-14 from the field, including a red-hot 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Plus, he drained five free throws. After the game, Stevenson spilled on what clicked for him. “I feel like there was a lot of things that put me in this situation,” he said. “Again, the work that I put in, just staying present in the moment. That’s something I’ve been working on and not letting the crowd, past experiences, past misses and stuff affect what I’m doing. My teammates set me up really well, coach called a lot of good plays for me and I just have to build off that.” That kind of focus is exactly what you want to hear from a guy stepping into that lead role.
What’s Next for the Tar Heels?
The comeback win itself was a big deal for UNC, showing a much-improved team performance compared to last season. With Stevenson leading the way like this, you can feel the energy building. The Tar Heels now get eight days to rest and fine-tune things before they face the Indiana Hoosiers in Indianapolis. The big question is, can Stevenson keep this level of play going? Can he build on this incredible start and help the team he rooted for his whole life finally win a National Championship? We’ll be watching to see if Friday night was just the beginning.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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