UNC basketball’s Justin McKoy cleared, just in time to face a familiar Virginia squad
Justin McKoy spearheaded a group of players going to Virginia’s freshmen dorm one morning after a big snowstorm in Charlottesville. After they woke up point guard Reece Beekman and asked him to step outside, they pelted him with snowballs.
It was the kind of prank that endeared McKoy to his teammates in his two seasons at UVA.
“There’s a couple of videos out there somewhere, it was hilarious,” McKoy said. “No one was hurt during the video or during the prank, but it was one of those moments we all look back on and just die of laughter because it was just different. It was fun.”
When McKoy sees Beekman and the Cavaliers on Saturday, it won’t just be for fun. McKoy, who played at Panther Creek High School in Cary, transferred to North Carolina last summer. He’ll get a chance to face his former team when the Tar Heels and Cavaliers tip off at 1 p.m. in the Dean E. Smith Center.
UVA (9-5, 3-1 ACC) has won the past seven meetings against Carolina (10-4, 2-1) and McKoy was a part of three of those Wahoo victories.
McKoy, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Friday, missed the Heels last two games against Boston College and Notre Dame while in COVID-19 protocols. His early gift was being cleared for the game. McKoy has tried to stay even keeled about facing his former team.
“I don’t think there’s a lot of value in putting too much emphasis on it, creating pressures and ideas that you don’t want to start thinking about while you’re playing,” McKoy said. “But it’ll definitely be fun to play against those guys. I know them very well. I feel like I can use that to my advantage.”
UNC coach Hubert Davis knows what kind of emotion goes into facing a former team. He went through it several times in the NBA when he was traded.
“When I got traded from the Knicks, the first time that we played the Knicks, I wanted to score 30,” Davis said, who then revealed he finished with two points. “...It’ll be an emotional game for him at first, but as the game goes on, it’s just a game. And my hope is that he’ll settle in.”
McKoy feels like he’s been in this situation before. He knew a lot of Carolina players growing up in the area, which gave him an odd sense of familiarity when he played 17 minutes in the Cavaliers’ win in Charlottesville his freshman year.
He admitted he didn’t know what he’s going to feel when he runs through the tunnel and sees the Cavaliers on the other side of the court. But added that he hasn’t put too much thought into it.
“When I played against UNC, it was this similar feeling of — because like that was the hometown team — I kind of know all the guys,” McKoy said. “I don’t think it’ll be anything different than that (on Saturday), something I’ve experienced before.”
Carolina’s rotation could again be shorthanded. Davis said as of Friday, starting forward Dawson Garcia and reserve guard Kerwin Walton were unavailable to play. Garcia suffered a concussion against Boston College on Sunday and Walton was in COVID protocol. That could mean McKoy has a chance at more playing time.
Virginia sophomore center Kadin Shedrick is one of those players — turned opponent — McKoy considers a friend. The pair go back to the sixth grade when they were AAU teammates. The plan was to play together in high school too, but Shedrick ended up at Holly Springs.
“Justin brings a big personality to the team on and off the court, he makes the guys laugh,” Shedrick said. “He always likes to joke with people like, make fun in a kindhearted way. But Justin is probably the most competitive person I know.”
McKoy’s transition to UNC hasn’t been seamless. He’s appeared in 11 games, but averaged just 6.1 minutes per game.
McKoy’s not disillusioned by his season so far. He envisions contributing more in the second half of the season. He could be part of the solution for a team that’s been pretty inconsistent defensively.
“I know everyone wants everything to happen immediately, but it always takes time,” McKoy said. “I felt like in this situation, I had to kind of evaluate and take a step back and see how I can be effective and how I can work in this system.”
If he does make more of an impact for Carolina, his former teammates at UVA will be among the least surprised.
“He brings a lot of energy,” Beekman said. “He’s always got a smile on his face, he’s always ready to go. I feel like he brings the energy day-in and day-out that a great player always needs.”
This story was originally published January 8, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "UNC basketball’s Justin McKoy cleared, just in time to face a familiar Virginia squad."