Antawn Jamison unplugged: UNC legend on Duke, kissing the floor and HS star Isaiah Evans

Charlotte’s Antawn Jamison says no one is wearing No. 33 at North Carolina again.

“I’m not giving anybody permission,” Jamison said. “Nobody can wear it. That’s a done deal. Nobody.”

Jamison, who played at UNC from 1995-98, averaged 19 points and 9.9 rebounds over his three-year career. He won the Naismith and Wooden awards as national college player of the year in 1998, when he averaged 22.2 points and 10.5 rebounds.

In March of 2000, North Carolina retired his jersey. In 2011, Bleacher Report named Jamison one of the top 25 players in ACC history.

With the ACC Tournament beginning this week and the big UNC-Duke game Saturday fresh in everyone’s memory, we sat down with one of the greatest Tar Heels ever — and a former McDonald’s All-American at Providence High School — to get his thoughts on a variety of topics.

Jamison, now director of pro personnel for the Washington Wizards after a 16-year NBA career, talked about Cormac Ryan, North Carolina, and future Duke player Isaiah Evans of North Mecklenburg High, a McDonald’s All-American who sent Jamison’s son’s high school team home last week.

Jamison’s answers are lightly edited for brevity and clarity. Jamison spoke with The Observer’s Langston Wertz Jr. and Randall Clark, a co-host of the streaming “Talking Preps” show.

LW: You famously kissed the floor at the 1998 Final Four after the Tar Heels were upset. I thought you were gone to the NBA. What were you thinking? (Jamison was eventually drafted fourth overall in the 1998 NBA Draft).

AJ: That’s the reason why I kissed it because I had no idea if I was coming back or not (for my senior year). So (kissing the floor was) just to make sure if I didn’t, just an appreciation of my three years at Carolina. I just knew it was special and might be the last time my parents saw me in a college basketball game. I just didn’t know. So for some reason the instincts just kind of kicked in and I kissed the floor and that was one of the things, especially the following week, the next day (people were saying), ‘Oh he’s leaving! He’s leaving! He kissed the floor!’ At the time I had no idea.

LW: So what changed?

AJ: We sat down and talked. The scouts told (coach Smith) I’d be a top 5, top 6 pick and he said, ‘This the main reason you come to college, to put yourself in a situation to create generational wealth, to find a successful job.’ My mom and dad did an unbelievable job as far as not putting that pressure on me, to not worry about taking care of the family. But as you know, I’ve seen my mom and dad work two jobs, sometimes three jobs at a time. They were always there to support me. But it was great to be in a position that I can take care of the family, but most importantly, that was my dream to play in the NBA. It felt like it was just a great time. I could set the family up for the future. I felt like I was ready and it was time to take that challenge and play in the NBA.

LW: You were in college in the ‘90s and NIL was not a thing. How do you feel about it now?

AJ: I’ve always felt that in the NCAA and high school sports in general, so much revenue is made off the backs of the athletes, and I felt like it was time players get a chance to make money off their name, image and likeness. It was time for student-athletes to get paid. I joke with my parents all the time. I say ‘Y’all might’ve had me a few years too early.’ But it’s time for these kids to get paid for all the hard work they put in. So much money has been made off their backs.

RC: Being a Charlotte native and living here, what are your thoughts on Michael Jordan selling the Hornets?

AJ: When you think about MJ, he’s done an unbelievable job with giving this city hope. I was kind of surprised (he sold) but (Jordan) had a lot of other things that took priority and this specific job with the Hornets, it needed hands on attention 24-7. So I think he did an unbelievable job finding a group that had that vision he has and wants to bring success to this area. I go to the games all the time. You still see the same faces.

RC: Thoughts on No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller?

AJ: I think a lot of people don’t realize this kid is special. I would like to see him and (point guard LaMelo) Ball get on the same page. But Ball’s been hurt lately and you’ve seen (Miller) take that next step as far as being consistent. He’s a two-way player. He can defend. He can score, and you would like to see him and Ball kind of get that chemistry down pat as quickly as possible. I think he’s got a bright future. I think he’s going to be successful for years to come. He loves his craft and he’s going to do everything possible to be successful.

I hear it all the time. We know how Charlotte has grown and this is an unbelievable city, and there should be no reason that you can’t bring top free agents to come to this city and play. Great fan base. They know the game of basketball.

LW: Do you think the Hornets can make the playoffs soon? Are they one free agent or one draft pick away?

AJ: I don’t think they’re that close. It’s going to take a while. You look at the success of (Oklahoma City). It took them awhile after the whole Kevin Durant, James Harden and (Russell) Westbrook breakup. I’m looking at five years or more, but you’ve got to slowly but surely put the right pieces around this young nucleus. Picking up (Grant Williams) was vital because he’s a great locker room guy. They need some great vets to mentor the young guys they do have. He has a certain edge to him that we haven’t had with this team. He doesn’t care about scoring. He cares about winning. You need more players like that in this organization and they’re definitely going down the right line by bringing guys like him in and you’ve got Seth Curry. He’s a true professional. One of the problems was having great vets in the locker room, and with this trade they got two solid vets who can come in and show these guys how to be a true professional, night-in and night-out.

RC: You got a chance to see North Mecklenburg’s Isaiah Evans play against your son’s nationally ranked Myers Park High team Friday. Evans, a Duke recruit, had 48 points. Your impressions.

AJ: He had a lot of buzz and I couldn’t wait to see him live. His mental makeup is something I haven’t seen in a high school player in a while. I haven’t seen a jump shot like that from a high school kid in a long time. Those are the kind of shots you’re going to be making on the elite level. Even though he picked the wrong school to go to and develop his talents in college, I’ve got nothing but respect. There’s only been a couple of players that wowed me the first time I saw them. Zion Williamson is one of those guys, and he’s definitely up there, to be able to showcase that type of talent and shoot the ball like that.

LW: How does Evans’ game project at the next level?

AJ: I think it projects perfectly. The one thing that is going to keep him in the league for years to come is his shooting ability. Not just a catch and shoot guy. He can put in on the floor. He can back down and fadeaway. Before I saw him play, I heard about the Brandon Ingram comparisons, which I know he’s gotten a lot. But watching Brandon in college, he’s more skillful than Brandon was at that stage. I don’t think there’s any way this doesn’t hit if he stays focused, he stays on the route he’s on. Duke is going to do a great job as far as preparing for the next level and developing him.

He was definitely impressive. He’s one of the first guys I saw live at that stage and said, ‘You know what, he’s that guy.’

LW: Your thoughts on the job Hubert Davis has done so far at UNC, including Saturday’s win in Durham?

AJ: I love it, man. I remember when he took the job and I started talking to him, and he’s like, ‘You know, Twan, I didn’t even know if I could do this,’ as far as coaching. The thing I love about Hubert is, of course he knows the Xs and Os of the game, but most importantly, man, he loves those players, and those players do an unbelievable job responding to his message and how he delivers his message. That was one of the things that Roy (Williams) had a problem with. He was like, ‘Antawn, they can’t understand me and I can’t understand them and I’m sitting here coaching them the same way the whole time I’ve been coaching.’

For some reason, Hubert has done a great job communicating the players and getting the best out of them. He’s going up and down the sidelines just clapping, getting in a defensive stance and bringing energy like he’s out there playing. This generation of players understand that. They respect that.

LW: How do you feel he’s done in the Duke rivalry?

The best feeling in the world was when it was Coach K’s last game, coaching in — I forgot the name of that gym down the road — to see all those people in there. They were sad. Shane Battier crying. It was best feeling in the world. So he had at least a 15-year grace period for me at Carolina, and then a month later to beat them again at the Final Four. The one thing I was kind of worried about was recruiting aspect of it but between him and Sean May and (Jeff) Lebo and those guys, they do a great job bringing in that top talent that we’re accustomed to having at Carolina. It’s been a smooth transition so far. I still think there’s room for growth. I think he’s trying to understand the whole transfer portal, the NIL stuff, so it’s all new to everybody.

I think we got put behind the 8-ball early on because we were doing it the way Carolina normally does it, but lately he’s done a good job getting some young talent. They’ve done a great job with the transfer portal getting guys who fit the program. I love it. He’s still loving coaching and we get opportunity to talk every time I’m down there so I’m happy for Hubert and what he’s able to accomplish in such a short time at Carolina.

LW: What were you thinking watching Cormac Ryan go for 31 points Saturday?

AJ: To go into that hostile environment and to be to be cool as ice and go out there and play his game. From start to finish, he was hitting tough shots. He didn’t care. He did a great job. (Transfers Ryan) and Harrison (Ingram have) been unbelievable all year. (Ingram) brought a certain edge to this team and did same thing that (Brady) Manek did when he came to Carolina. It’s been great to see Hubert and those guys bring in great talent like that. The most important thing I like about those two guys is they’re great human beings. It’s something new. These (transfers) keep coming up every year. That’s part of the every day world of college basketball and college basketball in general.

LW: Do you think we’ll get a third Duke-UNC game in Saturday’s ACC final?

AJ: Oh no, (Duke’s) not going to make it. I don’t see them making it. I think Clemson’s got a good chance of making it difficult for them. Virginia will have a home crowd. All those Virginia fans, it’s a short trip for them, but Duke does travel heavy. We owe it our fans to see Duke for a third time, so I’m calling it right now, Duke versus Carolina for a third time Saturday.

LW: How far can UNC go in the NCAAs?

AJ: I think if we can continue to get consistent shooting from the perimeter — Cormac Ryan, Harrison — I worried a little bit because (guard) R.J. (Davis) kind of hit like an emotional roller coaster last couple games, being up and down, because it’s been a tough season. All the teams are really geared to stop him and prevent him from catching fire. I need him to rest up and just be consistent. He doesn’t have to give you close to 30 points per game, but in order for that to happen, guys like Harrison and Cormac Ryan are going to have to be consistent. And we need big guy (Bacot). We need big guy to control the paint and I need some freshman sensation to come out. I think (point guard) Elliott (Cadeau) has done a great job as far as playing his role. But I think in order for us to go deep into the tournament and have a chance to win it, he’s going to have to have a couple games where he’s giving me 15 to 17 points per game because they’re really concentrating on getting RJ out of the game and stopping those shooters from the perimeter.

So on that pick and roll action, he can get downhill without a problem. So if he can finish at the rim and convert some easy buckets, I think we should be fine. That’s a lot that needs to happen, but a lot needs to happen to win a national championship.