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Duke MBB Great Jay Williams Says He’d Go to UNC in Transfer Portal Today and Fans Went Off
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ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams, a former two-time All-American at Duke, made quite the statement on Tuesday night’s telecast of No. 3 Kansas vs. Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
When discussing the transfer portal with play-by-play announcer Jon Sciambi, Williams made the bold claim that he would transfer to Duke rival North Carolina if he were in the portal today.
“So back then, I would have gone to Georgetown,” Williams said as he reminisced on his playing days. “I would have played for John Thompson. If you’re asking me today …ah man, this is a tough one because I don’t know if I’d be allowed to go back home,” Williams grimaced as he looked at Sciambi.
“Are you about to say North Carolina?” Sciambi asked with a surprised look on his face.
“I just like the way they play,” Williams quipped. “It’s a fast-paced style of play. I like it! … You asked me!” he added as he tried to defend himself.
Yikes, @RealJayWilliams says if he was in the transfer portal today he would go to UNC.
— Ryan Lommen (@TheDukeNation) January 17, 2024
Thoughts? 😬 pic.twitter.com/dWc8Z9gyn4
As anticipated, this did not sit very well with Duke basketball fans. In addition to Williams’s two-time All-American honors, he also was a starting guard on Duke’s 2001 national championship team and was the No. 2 pick in the 2002 NBA draft.
Here are some of the best reactions from Duke basketball fans following Williams’s bold statement on national television:
Yea this is unacceptable @RealJayWilliams https://t.co/VG3b4h9cIE pic.twitter.com/gf1YM1Kqhg
— Zion O. (@DukeNBA) January 17, 2024
I will ignore this and simply choose to focus on the fact that J-Will went 8-1 against UNC 🫶 https://t.co/ERgoh7M3Rs
— Crazie Talk (@crazietalker) January 17, 2024
You know what, ima keep my comments to myself https://t.co/YFF08m9iqc
— duke 2025 champs (@dukebluesamurai) January 17, 2024
THROW THAT MAN OUT OF THE BROTHERHOOD. HE AINT ALLOWED IN CAMERON. GO 10 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND SEE GAMES OVER THERE. https://t.co/iIvSYc1ME6
— carlos andrés (@hoopsdiaz) January 17, 2024
Mike McDaniel is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where he has worked since January 2022. His work has been featured at InsideTheACC.com, SB Nation, FanSided and more. McDaniel hosts the Hokie Hangover Podcast, covering Virginia Tech athletics, as well as Basketball Conference: The ACC Football Podcast. Outside of work, he is a husband and father, and an avid golfer.
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