Former Tar Heel Marvin Williams dives into his decision to attend college and why leaving UNC was hard.
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00:00 And I'm sorry to kind of like backtrack to your collegiate days, but
00:06 Ain't no type of like I'm sorry
00:16 But I just want to talk about um
00:19 What was it like playing in Carolina? I have follow-up questions for that, but I know me and Dave go back and forth
00:25 So I'll just keep it kind of short, but just tell me about your experience playing for Carolina and you know
00:31 Not most people get lucky in one year
00:34 yeah, it was uh
00:37 It was a blessing like it was it was the most fun
00:41 I've ever had playing basketball ever in my life
00:43 Like from the moment I stepped on campus to the moment I left it was the most fun
00:48 I've ever had playing basketball like I didn't I growing up I watched Carolina, you know
00:53 my dad is from North Carolina and you know, I used to watch coach Smith instructional videos in his living room and I
00:58 Used to wear North Carolina sweatsuits and jackets and so I was kind of raised on Carolina
01:02 But I didn't truly understand it until I came down here
01:05 So just just having that opportunity was so special for me and I'm so thankful for it
01:10 But it was it was the most fun I had ever had still to this day
01:13 So let me ask you this because you just talked about you know, how fun it was to be at Carolina
01:19 So you were a one-and-done before the one and done was popular before the NBA put in his rules
01:26 So the NBA put in a rule in 2005. This is after you left. What made you play college basketball?
01:33 versus going straight pro
01:35 I wanted to go to college period my class my high school class 2004. I think we had
01:41 Maybe eight to ten guys get drafted on the high school. It's probably close to a record. I'm ready and obviously I was
01:49 You know, I had an opportunity I guess to maybe make that jump but that it wasn't something I was interested in
01:53 Made it very
01:56 Wanted to go to college like school was something that I wanted to experience. It just always seems so fun to me
02:01 So jumpin straight from high school to the NBA wasn't something that was on my mind
02:04 Now I remember - I was in 6 16 or 17
02:16 Now Marvin your announcement to go pro was an emotional one
02:20 and
02:22 Why?
02:23 Was it emotional?
02:24 What went into your mind and and how tough of this of a decision was it because you loved it?
02:30 You loved that one year. I mean you come out that year
02:32 Like I said the lucky yes of people of players
02:37 And then you had this emotional announcement of going pro
02:40 What was going through your mind and what was your conversation like with coach Williams on your decision?
02:46 It was hard. It was really really hard
02:49 Because I didn't want to leave I didn't want to leave I actually had dinner with coach and my dad
02:56 One night and coach Williams looked me dead in the face
02:58 And he told me he said that he wants me to stay here as long as I want to stay here
03:02 But if I was his kid, he would tell me that I should be and when he told me that
03:07 I feel like I had to do it, you know, it was almost like
03:13 You know, he thought it was that's what was best for me, you know
03:15 Of course, we would have told me to stay and play four years. I would have stayed and played four years
03:19 I would have probably found a way to try to get a fifth year there if I could
03:22 You know, whatever he told me that I should do is what I was always gonna do
03:26 He told me my dad that he felt like I should leave. I feel like that's what we need to do
03:30 Thank you.