CHAPEL HILL, NC Raymond Felton was highly-touted coming into UNC. He was a consensus high-school All-American who was the 2002 Naismith National High School Player of the Year.
Now, he is also the best point guard in the ACC. Better than Steve Blake of Maryland. Better than Chris Duhon of Duke. The best. As a true freshman.
He put up 21 points and five assists on 8-of-14 shooting against the Cavaliers. But those statistics underscore his importance to this Tar Heel team.
Virginia, which faced a deficit as large as 19 in the first half, rallied back to tie the game at 47. But Felton would have none of that.
Over the next 12 minutes, he scored 11 of Carolina's next 26 points and added two assists.
"I want the ball in my hands with the game on the line," Felton said. "I want to make the plays, I want to make the passes, I want to go to the free-throw line. I missed two free throws and I'm still upset about that."
Anytime Virginia attempted to make a run, Felton closed the door. In all, he had 16 points in the second half.
"I thought Raymond was sensational running the show, especially in the second half," Carolina coach Matt Doherty said.
Felton's brilliance shines even brighter for two reasons. One, he is a true freshman. Two, he is leading this UNC team without a legitimate inside threat, making defenders pay more attention to his penetration.
Felton really has come on of late, having scored in double figures in 13 of his last 14 games. He ranks third in the ACC in assists. More importantly, he ranks second in the conference in minutes played.
Against Maryland, with UNC facing a 12-point halftime deficit, Felton scored the first 10 points of the second half. He has excelled on the road, scoring 28 against N.C. State Jan. 26, including a school-record tying eight three-pointers. At Cameron Indoor Stadium Feb. 5, he had 25 points and hit big shot after big shot, single-handedly keeping the Heels in the game.
Freshman aren't supposed to do that.
"I've grown tremendously," Felton said. "I know where I can get my shot off, I know the passes I can make, I know where the passes have to go. I'm basically still learning the offense."
When Virginia tried to make a late run, it was Felton that answered. On one play, he got the rebound and beat all five Virginia players back down the court for an easy bucket.
On another, he dribbled past Virginia guard Todd Billet, only to go behind his back, leaving Billet to grasp nothing but Felton's jersey.
His quickness is unparalleled in the ACC and maybe the country. Felton frustrated Virginia ballhandlers into 21 turnovers.
Virginia, missing point guard Keith Jenifer, could not contain Felton, who noted that it was Jenifer's absence that allowed him to control the game.
"By Jenifer not being there, that hurt Virginia," Felton said. "He's a solid point guard. He's quick, he's fast, but I was still surprised" at how much trouble Virginia had.
The Cavaliers succumbed to turnover after turnover, turning the ball over on their first two possessions and at key times during potential comebacks.
Felton scored five of the game's first 10 points, adding an assist and a steal as Carolina jumped out to a 10-0 lead.
Felton had his way all night long, driving and dishing at will and also flustering Cavalier defenders.
The scary thing is that he's only a freshman.
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