CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- In what could be a huge blow to North Carolina's basketball program, two-sport athletes Julius Peppers and Ronald Curry have indicated they will focus on football.
They would be the second and third unexpected departures from the basketball team since the end of last season following All-American sophomore guard Joseph Forte, the Tar Heels' leading scorer last year, who announced in May he was leaving school to enter the NBA draft.
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Julius Peppers is the best defensive end in college football right now. He's a Florida State-type of DE; strong, quick, explosive, with excellent instincts.
Kirk's full analysis |
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Peppers, a junior defensive end who led the nation with 15 sacks
last year, confirmed Tuesday that he will enter the NFL draft after
the upcoming season. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound Peppers said playing
basketball would undermine his prospects.
"I'm going to work out for the draft, and I think if I played
basketball, I would have too much going on," Peppers said. "I
might change my mind, but I doubt it."
Although he was an All-American in football, some NBA scouts say
Peppers may miss his calling by leaving basketball.
"I think I could play in the NBA if I gave up football, but
that's not going to happen," he said. "There's no temptation. I
had fun playing basketball. It was a great experience, but football
is where I'm going to concentrate."
Curry, the starting quarterback in football and the starting point guard in basketball, said he is planning for a career in professional football and hasn't decided about playing basketball next season.
"I'll wait and see how football goes," he said. "If I think it's best for me to skip basketball and concentrate on football, that's what I'll do."
Curry, a senior in terms of football eligibility but a junior in
basketball, said he likely would not compete as a fifth-year
basketball player in 2002-03. He said he will rule out basketball
next season if he determines it would hurt his 2002 NFL draft stock.
"I think (playing basketball this winter) would diminish his
draft stock," Tar Heels football coach John Bunting said. "I
don't think it would enhance it."
Curry led the Tar Heels (26-7) in assists with 119 last season
and averaged 5.5 points. Peppers averaged 7.1 points and 4.0
rebounds as an inside complement to senior center Brendan Haywood.
With the loss of the three underclassmen, second-year Tar Heels
coach Matt Doherty would have only two returning starters next
season: senior forwards Jason Capel and Kris Lang.
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