What NFL teams are interested in Jonathan Cooper?

(Bob Donnan/US Presswire)

The NFL Draft is almost here. The workouts, meetings and interviews are almost over. Now it is time to sit back and wait to here Roger Goodell or a retired NFL player or someone else working in the NFL offices to call the names. It is also a good time to look at the Tar Heels that are expected to go high and evaluate which teams have the most interest.

First we will looked at Giovani Bernard, now we take a look at who most believe will be the first Tar Heel and interior offensive lineman selected, Jonathan Cooper.

Most likely Pro Bowler in this draft? OG Jonathan Cooper would be my choice.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 22, 2013

1. Tennessee Titans: It was obvious last season that the Titans needed offensive line help badly. Cooper has met with the Titans on several occasions and for the Titans, if both players available their choice will come down to Cooper and Chance Warmack.
2. San Diego Chargers: If the Titans do not take Cooper, it is possible he does not make it past the Chargers at number 11. The Chargers need offensive line help and it is likely that the top 3 Tackles in draft will be gone before the Chargers pick. There is now predraft rumblings that Dallas is looking to trade up in front of the Chargers, meaning that Dallas believes that Cooper will not make it past the Chargers 11th pick.
3. Dallas Cowboys: As mentioned above the Cowboys are extremely interested in making Cooper their first round pick. Cooper met with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys earlier in April and the meeting left both parties coming away very impressed. Cooper would also improve an offensive line that was not very good last season.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Cowboys should also be worried about the Steelers drafting Cooper. Steelers personal basically welcomed Cooper in the hotel lobby at the Draft Combine, as they met with the Cooper before any other team at the Combine. The Steelers have more needs than Guard, since they took a Guard in the first round last year, but they will not pass on a player that could be best available player at pick number 17.

Draft Projection: When Thursday night is all said and done, Cooper will be the first Tar Heel to be drafted. There is also a very good chance that he will be one of two Guards taken in the first 15 picks, a position that rarely has anyone go in the top 15. Cooper did show teams during workouts that he could play center, right or left guard and that versatility on the offensive line will be hard to pass on. I believe that Cooper will be selected by the Titans as they have to get someone to protect Jake Locker and open up holes for Chris Johnson, because if the Titans offense looks as bad as it did last year there could be a new coaching staff in Nashville next year.

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What NFL teams are interested in Giovani Bernard?

The NFL Draft is almost here. The workouts, meetings and interviews are almost over. Now it is time to sit back and wait to here Roger Goodell or a retired NFL player or someone else working in the NFL offices to call the names. It is also a good time to look at the Tar Heels that are expected to go high and evaluate which teams have the most interest.

First we will look at Giovani Bernard, who has multiple teams interested, but has a few teams that are very interested.

"I would draft Giovani Bernard ahead of Eddie Lacy" (via @russlande)
— Fantasy FB Pundit (@FantasyFbPundit) April 17, 2013

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Marvin Lewis was at Carolina's Pro Day and it is believed that he was there to see Bernard. Bengals scouts were also spotted talking to Bernard at his Pro Day. Bernard also was one of the players that Cincinnati brought in to further evaluate.
2. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins lost their starting running back, Reggie Bush, to free agency. Bernard is a very versatile running back, just like Bush. Bernard visited in Florida with Dolphins personal and met  with them for over five hours. Barry Jackson, a beat writer for the Dolphins, believes that Bernard could be an option for the Dolphins with one of their two second round picks.
3. Green Bay Packers: The Packers have been very quiet about what they are planning on doing on the draft. They need a running back in the worst way and if you put Bernard in the Green Bay offense he would be an instant threat. The Packers did meet with Bernard at the NFL combine.
4. Dallas Cowboys: I have only seen speculation from writers that follow the Cowboys, that they are interested in Bernard. Dallas' rushing offense was very bad last year and Bernard would contribute immediately on special teams and third downs. This would also give Tony Romo, who just received a contract extension, a weapon to help him and the Cowboys make the playoffs.

Draft Projection: I did go on record saying that if Bernard had very good workouts he could sneak into the first round. While he has not had a workout that just blew people away he has been very consistent and has done whatever has been asked of him. If he does not get taken in the first round then someone will be getting a bargain in the second round. I still think there is a very strong chance that someone trades up to the end of the first round to grab Bernard. Two teams stick out to me, the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals, as both have expressed a lot of interest in Bernard and have extra picks in the first two days of the draft.

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Tar Heels in the NBA Playoffs

2 San Antonio Spurs vs. 7 Los Angeles Lakers

Danny Green
Green had his best season as a pro averaging 10.5 points a game and shooting 43% from 3 point range. Green is a key role player for one of the best teams in the NBA. He is a very good defender and when he is hot from outside the Spurs will be very tough to beat.

Antwan Jamison
If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to make it to the second round of the NBA playoffs, they will have to do it without Kobe Bryant. Jamison has scored 16 and 15 points in the two games without Bryant. Jamison will continue to be the Lakers first option off the bench.
Game 1 in San Antonio, April 21st at 3:30 pm EST on ABC

3 Denver Nuggets vs. 6 Golden State Warriors

Ty Lawson
Lawson had his best season in the NBA leading the Nuggets in points (16.7) and assist (6.9). He is expected to be a key factor if the Nuggets advance to the next round, as they are entering the playoffs banged up.

Harrison Barnes
In Barnes' first season he averaged 9 points and four rebounds a game. He also started 81 games this season for the Warriors.
Game 1 in Denver, April 20th at 5:30 pm EST on ESPN

4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5 Memphis Grizzlies

Ed Davis
Davis began the season very hot with the Toronto Raptors, but once he was traded to Memphis he was regulated to the bench and had his minutes a game cut drastically. Davis' role should be the same as the regular season and will be expected to give Memphis' front court solid minutes off the bench.
Game 1 in Los Angeles, April 20th at 10:30 pm EST on ESPN

1 Miami Heat vs. 8 Milwaukee Bucks

John Henson
Henson is playing his best basketball of the season and in the last 10 games he  has averaged 9 points and 9 rebounds a game, including posting a double-double in the last two regular season games. No one expects Milwaukee to win the series against Miami, but it will be a good opportunity for Henson to farther his development.
Game 1 in Miami, April 21st at 7:00 pm ESPN on TNT

2 New York Knicks vs. 7 Boston Celtics

Raymond Felton
The Knicks are one of the hottest teams heading into the NBA playoffs. Felton has been a big part of the teams success this year. He averaged 14 points and 5.5 assist per game. If Felton and the Knicks continue their hot play, then fans should be anticipating a New York-Miami Eastern Conference final.
Game 1 in New York, April 20th at 3:30 pm EST on ABC

3 Indiana Pacers vs. 6 Atlanta Hawks

Tyler Hansbrough
Hansbrough gives the Pacers a nice insurance policy for starter David West. When Hansbrough filled in for the injured West this season he gave them very solid minutes. Hansbrough did suffer a mild sprained ankle in practice on Friday, but is expected to play Sunday.
Game 1 in Indiana, April 21st at 1:00 pm EST on TNT

4 Brooklyn Nets vs. 5 Chicago Bulls

Jerry Stackhouse
Stackhouse missed a lot of the season and was used sparingly when he was healthy. Stackhouse is expected to come off the bench and give the Nets 10-15 solid minutes.
Game 1 in Brooklyn, April 20th at 8:00 pm EST on ESPN

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Reggie Bullock entering the NBA Draft

Junior small forward, Reggie Bullock has decided to enter the 2013 NBA draft. The deadline to enter the draft is April 28th, but Bullock weighed his options and decided to enter this years draft and forego his senior season. The announcement of  Bullock does

Is the time now for Matt Harvey to be the Mets Ace?

(Howard Simmons/New York Daily News)

Last season was yet another long season for Mets fan. However there were bright spots: Johan Santana's no hitter (the first in franchise history, R.A. Dickey's had a great season that ended with him winning the Cy Young, but perhaps the biggest bright spot for the Mets future, was the pitching performance by rookie Matt Harvey. Harvey had an ERA of 2.73 and struckout 70 batters in only 59 innings, but due to poor run

UNC Pro Day news, notes and Takeaways

Last year only one head coach came to Pro Day in Chapel Hill and it was Rex Ryan. He came and watched defensive end, Quinton Coples, and in April the Jets made him their first round pick. This year the Tar Heels are expected to have several players drafted this year including early round projections Jonathan Cooper, Sylvester Williams, Giovani Bernard and Kevin Reddick. There was a very good turn out compared to last year.

• Two NFL head coaches attended the pro day, Gus Bradley (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati Bengals).
• Three NFL general managers were also in attendance (Lions, Jets and Jaguars).
• A scout from every NFL team was present.
• Former NFL players and Tar Heels Quan Sturdivant and Brooks Foster participated in the workout.
• Senior wide receiver Jhay Boyd had a 41 1/2 inch vertical and it could have been  higher, but the device did not measure any higher.
• Boyd also ran an unofficial 4.4 in the 40. After an injury ridden senior season he had as good of a pro day he could have hoped for.
• Marvin Lewis and a Bengals scout was seen talking to Giovani Bernard, which goes back to what I said in early February that Bernard will not make it past the Bengals fifth pick in the second round.
• Jaguars sending the head coach and GM 
• Patriots, Texans, Packers and Broncos scouts all seemed very impressed with Bernard's quickness and explosiveness
• Coach Fedora tweeted that "our guys had a good day in front of the entire NFL".
• Casey Barth has a lot of work to get onto an NFL roster as no NFL scouts watched him kick
• Giovani Bernard said in an interview that he "does not want to come off the field" in the NFL.
• Former Tar Heel quarterback Cam Sexton was on hand to throw passes to Bernard and the group of receivers. 

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Tar Heel pro basketball weekly Recap

As basketball season is winding down, here is a look at a few stories this week around the NBA and over seas.

NBA

• Ty Lawson is battling a bruised heel that caused him to miss Denver's game against the 76ers on Thursday night. The Nuggets should not be without their floor general too long as he is listed as day-to-day.
• Tyler Hansbrough started two games for the Pacers this week as David West is battling a back injury. Hansbrough has averaged 16 points and 12.5 rebounds in those two games. While being without West is a big loss for the Pacers, Hansbrough is proving himself to be a capable fill in starter for the Pacers.
• Vince Carter became the 28th NBA player to reach 22,000 points in their career on Monday. Carter has been able to give the Mavericks an offensive lift off the bench this season and in his 14th year he shows he is still a very capable scorer.
• Wayne Ellington and Tyler Zeller nearly helped the Cavs shock the world this week and nearly ended the Miami Heat's winning streak, despite being without Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. Ellington led the Cavs with 20 points and Zeller had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Overseas

• Will Graves led Malvin to the semifinal of the playoffs in Uruguay. Graves had 25 point and ten rebounds. Malvin will resume play on Monday, March 25, against Aguada.
• Sean May and Jawad Williams will look to help Paris-Levallois end a three game losing streak on Saturday. In their only game this week May was the only player to have double digits in scoring with 23 points and also led the team with eight rebounds. Williams chipped in with eight points as he struggled shooting from the field.
• Deon Thompson had 15 points and five rebounds for ALBA-Berlin in a win on Wednesday. ALBA-Berlin did not have the same outcome on Sunday as they suffered a seven point loss to Phoenix Hagen, but Thompson had a nice game with 18 points and six rebounds. Thompson and ALBA-Berlin is 16-10 on the season.
• Justin Knox will lead the Vestelspor Manisa on Saturday in Turkey, after a two week break in play.
• Reyshawn Terry is expected to miss a few more games in Lebanon for Champville SC, as he suffered a groin injury in early March.

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Announcing the winner of our UNCPros March Madness Tournament Challenge

 The 2013 NCAA Tournament lived up to the expectations. It was full of Cinderellas, upsets, and emotion leading up to the crowning of Louisville as the National Champion. The selection committee got it right by naming the Rick Pitino led Cardinals as the #1 overall seed.

   We held our first March Madness Bracket Challenge this year, with martin120499 coming out on top (once we know your real name, we will update this post). That person wins this ProsReport Champions shirt.

To claim your prize, please send an email to CalebW@prosreport.com with your address. Thanks for playing!

***

 Tired of the same boring office pool? Join the UNCPros March Madness Tournament Challenge Today! Win & Compete against fellow UNC fans and possibly some UNC Pros. 
  To celebrate the launch of ProsReport.com, we are giving away free T-shirts to the top 10 finishers (pictured left). We have several other schools that we cover such as Florida St., WVU, Syracuse, etc., that we will bring under one roof — us included — next month at Prosreport.com.

  Click on the Group Name below to sign up. It’s that simple, and best of all, it’s free!

  For Participants, Standings and more information, Follow @UNCPros on Twitter and stay tuned here. Guidelines are listed on ESPN.com on the Tournament Page.

  Good Luck and Welcome to March Madness !

  Click here to join:

UNCPros March Madness Bracket Challenge

North Carolina Tar Heels get an 8 seed in the South Region

March Madness has officially begun! The Tar Heels just missed claiming an ACC Championship in what has been considered a down year. The committee did the Tar Heels no favors today giving them the eight seed in the south region. Their first round matchup is against a very tough Villanova team. If they do make it to the third round they will have to take on the Big 12 champion Kansas Jayhawks. We know how the committee likes to create story lines as Roy Williams could face his former team for the second consecutive season in the tournament. Last year the Jayhawks knocked off the top seeded Tar Heels that were without their starting point guard, Kendall Marshall. 

I am a bit surprised at the Tar Heels being an eight seed as they were ranked 16th in the RPI and had the 11th strongest schedule. That being said,what you need to know about the Villanova Wildcats is they are well coached by Jay Wright. The Tar Heels matchup very well with them as far as size goes. Sophmore forward, JayVaughn Pinkston is the Wildcats leading scorer. The Wildcats have been battle tested in the Big East and have wins against Louisville, Syracuse, Georgetown and Marquette.

At fist glance I think it is safe to say that the South region is very tough. The top four seeds (Kansas, Georgetown, Florida and Michigan) have all been discussed as potential number one seeds in the last three weeks. Throw in one of the hottest teams in the NCAA in the last month of the season and a team that can shoot and play lights out in North Carolina. By this time next week will all by ripping up our brackets!

The Tar Heels will play on Friday and the time will be determined later this week.

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UNCPros Friday night Recap

(Greg Nelson/SI)

NBA Action:

• Raymond Felton had 23 points, six rebounds and four assist in the a Knicks' win. Felton shot 50% from the field.

• Harrison Barnes had 16 points, six rebounds and 3 steals, but it was not enough as the Warriors fell 94-86 to the Celtics.

• Tyler Zeller had 9 points and five rebounds in the Cavaliers 105-89 loss to the Clippers. Wayne Ellington chipped in with 9 points off the bench.

• Vince Carter had 20 points in 29 minutes off the bench for the Mavs in a 98-90 win over the Nets.

• Danny Green had 15 points, he was one of eight Spurs in double figures in a 130-102 route of the Kings.

• Ty Lawson had 11 points, seven assist and struggled shooting the ball going 5-14 Friday night, but he was clutch when it mattered as he hit the game winning shot with 0.2 seconds left as the Nuggets knocked off the Thunder. Watch the highlights here.

Overseas Action:

• In Uruguay  Will Graves led Malvin to a win in their first game of the playoffs. Graves had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assist. Since joining Malvin Graves has given them a lift they needed and they are playing their best basketball of the season at the right time.

• Deon Thompson had 10 points for ALBA Berlin last night in a loss.

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NFL Draft Pundits weigh-in on: Jonathan Cooper

In the last two weeks the draft stock of UNC Guard, Jonathan Cooper has soared. Originally thought to be a late first round pick, now there is buzz that Cooper will not make it out of the first twelve picks. Here are several tweets that I gathered from twitter about Cooper.

UNC OG Jonathan Cooper: "I played predominantly at guard but I took snaps at center in practice and played center in 1 game"
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler)

Dane Brugler is the NFL Draft Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com and CBSSports.com.

Combine News & Notes Day 1:more teams starting to grade Jonathan Cooper/G/UNC ahead of Chance Warmack/G/Bama: draftinsider.net
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline)

Tony Pauline is a Publisher and Draft analyst for DraftInsider.net.

(And I should note, my favorite interview today was UNC OG Jonathan Cooper.Really bright, engaged kid.)
— Collin McCollough (@cmccollo)

Collin McCollough is the NFL Deputy Editor of Bleacher Report.

#NFL draft guru Mike Mayock expects #UNC OG Jonathan Cooper to 'wow them' at the Combine in Indy on Saturday: bit.ly/11VZfM9
— Star-News ACC (@starnewsacc)

Mike Mayock said UNC OG Jonathan Cooper one of four guys who should be in mix for No. 1 overall.
— Will Brinson (@willbrinson)

Mayock on @kcchiefs options at No. 1: 'It's [Chance] Warmack, [Jonathan] Cooper, [Luke] Joeckel or [Eric] Fisher.' #NFLCombine #NFLDraft
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork)

UNC Guard Jonathan Cooper is fun to watch. Great athlete and he has a nasty streak. Several de-cleaters when he's uncovered in pass pro..
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks)

Daniel Jeremiah is an analyst for NFL.com and NFL Network.


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Sylvester Williams NFL Combine Preview

It is that time of year where many NFL fans will gather around the television, tune into the NFL Network and watch college kids work out. The hoopla that surrounds the NFL Combine has grown in the past few years and it is a chance for fans to watch the future of the NFL. For many fans it is an opportunity to look for those players that will improve their teams. For the players competing it is a chance to outshine others and improve their draft stock that will ultimately get them a higher payday.

Many draft experts have declared the NFL draft has a very deep and nice class of defensive tackles. Every team is looking for that big guy in the middle of the defensive line that can clog up running holes and put pressure on the quarterback. Sylvester Williams is considered by many to be a top 5 defensive tackle with room to improve.

Williams had a chance to show off his ability to NFL scouts the week of the Senior Bowl and he did not disappoint  Williams showed great first step quickness  and dominated drills using his strength, power, awareness and athleticism. During that week Williams met with the Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams. The range of where Williams could be drafted ranges from mid-late first round to mid second round.

Williams is a player that could be a great value pick if he makes it to the second day. He can raise his stock by answering scouts concerns of his consistency. He is entering the combine with momentum from his performance at the Senior Bowl and the buzz that has been receiving from draft experts. 

Tune into the NFL Network Febuary 23-26 to watch Williams, Kevin Reddick, Giovani Bernard, Travis Bond, Brennan Williams and Jonathan Cooper.

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Jonathan Cooper NFL Combine Preview

(CSM/Landov)

Jonathan Cooper enters the NFL Combine with the opportunity to improve his draft stock dramatically. Considered by many to be the second best interior offensive lineman in the NFL draft, behind Alabama's Chance Warmack. Cooper was an Outland Trophy Finalist (best OL in NCAA) and the winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy (best OL in the ACC). Mel Kiper is one person that really likes Cooper, saying that he is  "projected to be a top 12 pick", and could rise to a "top four to six pick with a good combine". 

Cooper was a four year starter at Chapel Hill and his combination of power, quickness and exceptional pass-blocking skills have made him a player that many teams will covet. Cooper skipped the Senior Bowl in January, but is expected to participate fully at the combine.  He could overtake Warmack as the best interior lineman in the draft, but I believe a top 6 pick is a bit of a stretch. Not because I question Cooper's ability, but I question if a non-tackle would be drafted that early in the draft.

Tune into the NFL Network Febuary 23-26 to watch Williams, Kevin Reddick, Giovani Bernard, Travis Bond, Brennan Williams and Jonathan Cooper.

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UNCPros Tuesday Night(2/19) Recap

(Streeter Lecka/Getty Images North America)

In the NBA:

• Ed Davis had a solid 21 minutes and had 14 points, four rebounds and four blocks off the bench for the Grizzlies as they beat Detroit.

• Ty Lawson continues to lead the way in Denver as he had 26 points, six rebounds and six assist in the win over the Celtics.

• Marvin Williams had 11 points in the Jazz win against Golden State.

• Danny Green was hot from three-point range going 5-8 and scoring 21 points in a Spurs win over the Kings.

In overseas action:

• On Sunday in Lebanon, Reyshawn Terry led Champville to a win with 30 points and six rebounds. Keeping his team two games out of first place.

• Last Friday, in Uruguay Will Graves had a monster game, for Malvin, scoring 31 points, seven rebounds and five steals. This was the last game before a two week break and even though Graves has only played a few games for Malvin, he is quickly becoming their best scorer averaging 16 points and six rebounds a game.

• Deon Thompson led the way last night for ALBA Berlin with 24 points and seven rebounds in the win.

• In France last night, Jawad Williams and Sean May did not play due to a coaches decision. I would speculate that he was resting them for games that count toward the French League regular season and not the EuroChallenge.

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Wednesday Night (2/13) Tar Heels Update

(AP Photo)

In the NBA:

Tyler Hansbrough made his first start of the season, due to an injury to David West (eye), and he took full advantage of the opportunity scoring 15 points in the first half. Hansbourgh ended the game with a double-double (19 points 10 rebounds) being the second Tar Heel in as many days to earn a double-double (Antwan Jamison).

Tyler Zeller had 16 points and 9 rebounds as the Cavs nearly knocked off the Spurs , but fell 96-95. Wayne Ellington had 5 points and 2 steals for Cleveland and Danny Green had 4 points, 3 assist and 4 steals.

Ty Lawson led the Nuggets with 26 points and 9 assist, but fell to the Brooklyn Nets as both Andre Iguodala and Danilo Gallinari did not play.

Raymond Felton had 16 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assist and 4 steals in the Knicks loss to the Raptors.

Vince Carter had 26 points and 5 rebounds as he led the Dallas Mavericks to the win over the Kings. Coming off the bench Carter led the Mavs in scoring.

Other leagues action:

Justin Knox had 9 points and 7 rebounds in Vestelspor's two point victory in Turkey. That brings them to 13-8 on the season and their next game is February 16.

Reyshawn Terry and Champville basketball club played their first game since January 26 in Lebanon. Terry struggled shooting from the field (3-11) and only had 9 points, but he also had 13 rebounds and 4 steals to help Champville win their game and stay within two games of first place.

Daniel Bolick (The Yellow Mamba) and his Cincinnati Slam team beat Team Japan on Sunday. Bolick helped his team to the victory by chipping in 10 points with 4 assist and 3 rebounds.

Sean May and Jawad Williams led Paris-Levallois to a 101-84 victory on Tuesday. May had 13 points 4 rebounds and 5 assist while playing 20 minutes. Williams led the team with 16 points in only 17 minutes.

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Tar Heel Sunday Recap

USA Today Sports

Several former Tar Heels were in action in the NBA and overseas on Sunday night. Here is a recap of some of the players in action.

NBA

• Raymond Felton had 20 points and five assist in the Knicks loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Felton and Carmelo Anthony combined for 62 of the New York's 88 points and they were the only two players who had double digits in points.

• Ty Lawson 29 points, six rebounds and nine assist in the Nuggets triple overtime loss to the Boston Celtics. He also led both teams by playing 55 minutes.

• Danny Green had 14 points for the Spurs in the win over the Nets.

• Kendall Marshall continues to see more playing time Phoenix, as he seen 26 minutes in the loss to the Thunder on Sunday night. 

• Ed Davis had four points in 11 minutes in the Grizzlies victory of the Timberwolves.

• Antwan Jamison had three points in the Lakers loss to the Heat.

Overseas

• Justin Knox had six points and six rebounds as Vestelspor loss on Sunday night in Turkey.

• Deon Thompson struggled in ALBA Berlin's loss on Sunday night as he was in foul trouble much of the night and six points. 

• Sean May had 18 points and 11 rebounds while Jawad Williams had nine points and 5 assist as Paris-Levallois had a two point victory over Poiters on Saturday night in France.

• Will Graves had 13 points and three rebounds in Malvin's two point victory in Uruguay on Friday night.

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Tar Heel Wednesday Night Recap

(Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports)

There were 26 NBA team in action last night and a number of UNC Pros. There were two that did not play due to injuries, Jerry Stackhouse (neck) and Rasheed Wallace (foot). Also, Rashad McCants was a healthy scratch for the Texas Legands in the NBDL.

• Danny Green had a career high 28 points and hit 8 three-pointers as he helped lead the Spurs to a victory over the Timberwolves.

• Wayne Ellington came off the bench and gave the Cavaliers 16 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes to help Cleveland blowout the Bobcats. Tyler Zeller also contributed with 8 points and 6 rebounds.

• Vince Carter continues to give the Mavericks a spark off the bench. He had 17 points in 25 minutes as Dallas knocks off the Trailblazers.

• Raymond Felton had a solid 17 points and 4 assist in the Knicks road loss to the Wizards. Felton was 3-5 from three point range, but struggled shooting from the rest of the field. Felton was not the only one who struggled shooting as the entire team barely shot 40%.

• Harrison Barnes had a really good night shooting going 7-9 from the field and scoring 19 points, but the Thunder was just too much for the Warriors to handle.

• In Uruguay, Will Graves had 11 points and seven rebounds on Tuesday night.

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Quality Over Quantity: Tar Heel Football Signing Day

Larry Fedora and his coaching staff was very busy on National Signing Day. They landed 17 of their 18 commitments and assembled a very good recruiting class. Coach Fedora was on ESPNU earlier and had this to say about his class, "a really balanced class, a smaller class but, also one that we felt would be more quality over quantity." 

He also said of this group that he thinks they can win “multiple” ACC championships.The group is highlighted with quarterback Mitch Trubisky and running back T.J. Logan on offense and defensive lineman Greg Webb and Dajuan Drennon and defensive back Desmond Lawrence on the defensive side of the ball. There was not a "5-Star" recruit in this class, but it is extremely balanced. There is a lot of potential for this class and Coach Fedora and his staff will get the most out of this class. Also, if  we learned anything this college football season it is that even "3-Star" recruits can win the Heisman trophey, just ask Johnny Manziel.

Rankings by the experts:


ESPN Ranked: #20
Rivals Ranked: #41
Scout Ranked: #30


2013 North Carolina Tar Heels Football Recruiting class:

1. Mikey Bart (DE/ 6-3/ 245 lbs.)
2. Lucas Crowley (OL/ 6-3/ 270 lbs.)
3. Dajuan Drennon (DE/ 6-4/ 230 lbs.)
4. Jardan Fieulleteau (WR/ 6-3/ 200 lbs.)
5. Khris Francis (RB/ 5-9/ 195 lbs.)
6. Marquis Haynes (DE / 6-3/ 220 lbs.)
7. Brad Henson (OL/ 6-5/ 295 lbs.)
8. Jonathan Howard (WR/ 6-4/ 180 lbs.)
9. Nazir Jones (DL/ 6-5/ 250 lbs.)
10. Desmond Lawrence (DB/ 6-1/ 175 lbs.)
11. T.J. Logan (RB/ 5-10/ 180 lbs.)
12. Donnie Miles (S/ 5-11/ 200 lbs.)
13. R.J. Prince (OL/ 6-7/ 310 lbs.)
14. Ryan Switzer (ATH-WR/ 5-10/ 175 lbs.)
15. Mitch Trubisky (QB/ 6-3/ 195 lbs.)
16. Brian Walker (CB/ 5-11/ 175)
17. Greg Webb (DT/ 6-2/ 310 lbs.)

Former Tar Heel Basketball Players Current Team

Now that the basketball season in the NBA and overseas are well under way, we have compiled a list of former Tar Heels and the roster they are currently on:


NBA:

• Jerry Stackhouse (Brooklyn Nets)
• Raymond Felton (New York Knicks)
• Rasheed Wallace (New York Knicks)
• Wayne Ellington (Cleveland Cavaliers)
• Tyler Zeller (Cleveland Cavaliers)
• Tyler Hansbrough (Indiana Pacers)
• John Henson (Milwaukee Bucks)
• Brendan Haywood (Charlotte Bobcats)
• Vince Carter (Dallas Mavericks)
• Brandan Wright (Dallas Mavericks)
• Ed Davis (Memphis Grizzlies)
• Danny Green (San Antonio Spurs)
• Ty Lawson (Denver Nuggets)
• Marvin Williams (Utah Jazz)
• Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors)
• Antwan Jamison (Los Angeles Lakers)
• Kendall Marshall (Phoenix Suns)

NBDL:

• Rashad McCants (Texas Legends)

Overseas:

• Jawad Williams (Paris-Levallois: France)
• Sean May (Paris-Levallois: France)
• David Noel (BCM Graveline: France)
• Deon Thompson (ALBA Berlin: Germany)
• Marcus Ginyard (Anwil: Poland)
• William Graves (Malvin: Uruguay)
• Justin Knox (Vestel: Turkey)
• Daniel Bolick (Cincinnati Slam: USA)
• Alex Stephenson (Panionios: Greece)
• Reyshawn Terry (Champville: Lebanon)
• Kris Lang (Cocodrilos de Caracas: Venezuela)

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Where Will Giovani Bernard Be Drafted?

(Bob Donnan/US Presswire)

Giovani Bernard announced in December that he would forego the final two years of his NCAA elegibility and enter the 2013 NFL draft. Bernard is a running back that is very adaptable and versatile. ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay has Bernard graded as a second round pick and says his versatility compares to LeSean McCoy or Shane Vereen. If we know anything about the NFL, it is a copycat league and having a running back that can return kicks, run inside and catch balls out of the backfield is a necessity. The Baltimore Ravens just won a Super Bowl and they have one of the most versatile backs in the league.

Two players that Bernard compares favorably to are CJ Spiller and David Wilson, both of which were first round picks. Bernard, like Wilson and Spiller, has a skill set as a returner on special teams that will help increase his draft stock. Bernard is a better receiver out of the back field than Wilson and on par with Spiller. Bernard's size and durability will be concerns that NFL scouts, coaches and general managers will have to take into account when evaluating Bernard and weighing the concerns with his upside.

We are going to evaluate a few teams in the mid to late first round that could possibly have Bernard on their radar:

Tar Heel Friday Night Recap

Courtesy of NBA.com

Last night there were 12 NBA games on Friday and 14 former Tar Heels in action. Some of the notable performances were:

The Dallas Mavericks downed the Phoenix Suns 109-99. Vince Carter led the bench in scoring with 17 points in 27 minutes. Carter has provided the Mavs with a solid scoring option off the bench all season. Brandan Wright had 11 points and 6 rebounds off the bench as well.

Cleveland fell to the Pistons, 117-99. Wayne Ellington had 13 points for the Cavs off the bench despite having a horrible shooting day. Unfortunately for the Cavs, Ellington was not the only player that struggled shooting the ball as the team shot less than 40% from the field.

Indiana defeated the Heat, 102-89. Tyler Hansbourgh played an effective 12 minutes, scoring 11 points.

Ty Lawson led the for the Nuggets 113-98 win over the Hornets. Lawson had a double-double with 21 points and 13 assist. It was Lawson's fifth double-double of the season.

Raymond Felton and the New York Knicks beat the Bucks 96-86. Felton had 14 points and 8 assist. 

Antwan Jamison had 18 points and 7 rebounds to help the Dwight Howardless Lakers defeat the Timberwolves, 111-100.

In the NBADL the Texas Legends fell short to the Santa Cruz Warriors, 112-102. The Legends were led by the newly acquired Rashad McCants who scored 25 points and shot 10-14 from the field.

In France today Paris-Levallois takes on BCM Gravelines. The game will feature three former Tar Heels, Sean May, Jawad Williams and David Noel. May and Williams' Leavallois team is two games off the pace of the league leader BCM Gravelines.

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Former Tar Heel Wayne Ellington Traded

(US Presswire)

The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to trade former Tar Heel Wayne Ellington to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ellington was traded from Minnesota to Memphis in the off season over the summer. Ellington averaged 5.5 points and 17 minutes a game off the bench for the Grizzlies this season.  Ellington is expected to have the same role for Cleveland as a backup to rookie, Syracuse Pro Dion Waiters, who is having a Rookie of the Year caliber season. Since Ellington has entered the league he is struggled to find his role on a team. He could be a very good role player for a playoff team, but he has yet to play an entire season for a non-lottery team.

Memphis also trades Marcus Speights and Josh Selby to Cleveland. This move helps Memphis get below the NBA luxury tax threshold without having to trade one of their key players like Rudy Gay or Zach Randolph. For Cleveland this gives them two players in Speights and Ellington who will contribute off the bench.

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Tar Heel NFL Draft Prospects

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Now that the NFL regular season is over and the playoffs are underway the majority of NFL teams and fans are now looking ahead to next season. Fans are anticipating what off season moves their team will make. The 2013 edition of the NFL Draft will take place April 25-27. NFL coaches, general managers and scouts will have plenty of opportunities to evaluate talent at the Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine, pro days and individual workouts. As it stands right now the Tar Heels have several prospects that could be drafted one of the three days in late April.

Giovani Bernard (RB): Before any of the predraft festivities Bernard is expected to be one of the first running back taken in the draft. Bernard moves very elusive and with bursts of power. He is not extremely quick or strong, but he can do a lot of things on the field. He is a very good receiver out of the backfield and as NC State fans can tell you he is an excellent punt returner. Bernard is a player that can make an immediate impact in the NFL.

Jonathan Cooper (OG): Cooper is the early favorite to be the first Tar Heel taken in the 2013 NFL draft. Cooper is expected to go mid-late first round. Cooper, started 35 games while he was in Chapel Hill. He has excellent footwork and shows bursts of explosiveness off the line of scrimmage. 

Sylvester Williams (DT): Williams chose to return for his senior season and he is a top 10 prospect at the defensive tackle position because of that decision. He is a very good pass rusher and can get to the Quarterback on a consistent basis. He had 42 tackles this season with 13 of those for losses, he also tallied six sacks. Williams will showcase his talent by being a participant at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on January 26.

Brennan Williams (OT): What is not to love about Williams size and athleticism, he stands 6'7" 310 pounds and has very good footwork. What will improve his draft stock is if Williams can show that he is healthy. Williams had surgery in late October for a torn labrum on his left shoulder. If healthy he could be a steal for a team drafting in the third or fourth round as he has the size and ability to first round talent on the right side of an offensive line for many years in the NFL.

Kevin Reddick (ILB): Reddick is carrying on a recent tradition of North Carolina producing good NFL linebackers. His senior season hurt his draft stock a bit and caused some to question his effort on the field. He was a four year starter and leader for the Tar Heel defense and that experience allows him to make up for the flaws in his game. He has a high football intelligence and that is something you need in a middle linebacker at the next level. Reddick will join teammate Sylvester Williams in Mobile for the Senior Bowl.

Erik Highsmith (WR): The 6'2" senior is expected to be a late round to undrafted free agent in the draft this year. Highsmith does not have blazing speed, but he does have length and very good skill sets. Highsmith has an excellent work ethic and would be a nice addition to any NFL team preseason roster. He has the ability and drive to improve his draft stock and his draft stock will be very interesting to watch the next couple of months.

Travis Bond (OG): Bond is a very big interior lineman at 6'7" 340 pounds. He is projected to go undrafted or in the last round of the draft.

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Sean May and Jawad Williams At the All Star Break

Current Paris-Levallois and former Tar Heel teammates, Sean May and Jawad Williams just concluded the Paris League All Star game festivities. Both players were selected to the game that matches French born players against Foreign born players. Williams scored 13 points to help the Foreign team to hold on to 111-107 victory. Williams has made the All Star team two consecutive seasons while playing for Paris-Levallois.

Paris-Levallois has been on break since December 28th and will not resume play until January 12th. May and Williams took advantage of the time off and made their way back to the States.

When they resume play on the 12th they are in a highly contested battle for first place in the France ProA standings. Paris-Levallois is one of six teams that have a 9-5 record, which is best in the league. A big reason why Paris-Levallois is a contender has a lot to do with their two all stars. May is leading the team in points (20.7 per game) and rebounds (7.1 per game). Williams has averaged a solid 17 points, five rebounds and nearly 2 steals a game. Paris-Levallois is in search of their first title since 1997 when Paris Basket Racing earned championship honors. In 2007 Paris Basket Racing merged with Levallois SCB to form Paris-Levallois.

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Deon Thompson Leading the Way in Germany

Deon Thompson is becoming a leader for ALBA Berlin this year in Germany, much like the leadership role he took on during his playing days in Chapel Hill and last year for Union Olimpija, where he received MVP honors and a championship. Thompson has improved his overall game by playing overseas and in the NBA Summer League.

This season Thompson has led ALBA Berlin to an 11-5 start and third in the league. Thompson is leading the team with 15.5 points and six rebounds a game, he has also played in all 16 games. Thompson claimed Player of the Week honors in December for his 19 points and 11 rebounds effort against the best team in the league, Brose Baskets Bramberg. The season is nearing the halfway point and Thompson is poised to make another run at a championship and MVP honors overseas.

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