Before Becoming a Blue Devil Icon: Paolo Banchero’s Surprising Childhood Affinity for the Tar Heels

In the intense, often tribal world of college basketball, few rivalries burn hotter than that between the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels. The very mention of one often conjures images of the other, locked in a fierce, decades-long battle for ACC supremacy and national bragging rights. Players who cross this invisible line, even in thought, are rare and often face scrutiny. Thus, it comes as a revelation to many that Paolo Banchero, the dynamic forward who became a Duke basketball star and the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, harbored a surprising fondness for the very enemy during his formative years. This admission, shared on “The Pivot” podcast, peels back a layer on Banchero’s journey, revealing a childhood preference that contrasts sharply with the indelible mark he left in Durham.

Banchero, now an NBA All-Star with the Orlando Magic, confessed, “I ain’t gonna lie, growing up, I actually liked the Tar Heels a little bit.” This statement, from a player who led Duke to the Final Four in his lone season and was instrumental in legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final campaign, is bound to raise eyebrows in both Chapel Hill and Durham. The reasons behind this early allegiance are rooted in his youth basketball experiences. Banchero explained that his elementary through high school AAU team sported Carolina blue colors. “So, that was my colors I wore playing, so we always liked Carolina,” he stated, highlighting the simple yet profound influence of team colors and early associations. Furthermore, a personal connection deepened this affinity: “And my mom, she also had a player that she coached in high school go on to play at North Carolina.” These foundational elements—team colors and a direct link through his mother’s coaching—painted a childhood picture of Banchero as a nascent Tar Heel fan, a striking image given his eventual destiny.

This revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of a top-tier prospect’s allegiances. Banchero’s journey from a Seattle, Washington, native to a highly sought-after recruit was meticulously tracked by scouts and coaches across the nation. As he blossomed into the consensus second-ranked prospect in the 2021 class, his recruitment became a high-stakes affair. He fielded offers from virtually every blue-blood program, including Duke, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Tennessee, and, of course, North Carolina. His eventual commitment to Duke in August 2020, followed by his signing in November, was a significant win for Coach K’s program, especially as it marked one of the final major recruits for the legendary coach before his retirement.

What swayed Banchero from his childhood affection for Carolina blue to the Duke standard? The narrative suggests a blend of strategic consideration, personal development, and the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Banchero admitted that his initial visit to Duke wasn’t “fun” in the way his visits to other schools might have been, the pandemic forced a different perspective. It shifted the focus from the social aspects of a campus visit to the tangible opportunities for growth and professional advancement. “COVID kind of brought me back down to Earth, and I realized, look, I’m trying to go to the NBA, be the No. 1 pick, so I need to go to where I had the best opportunity,” Banchero reflected.

The persistent and personalized recruitment efforts of Coach K and the Duke staff also played a pivotal role. Banchero recounted how Coach K, despite his legendary status, was the coach who called and texted him the most throughout the pandemic, demonstrating a level of commitment that resonated deeply. This unwavering attention, coupled with the clear path to professional success Duke could offer, ultimately outweighed his childhood leanings. He saw Duke as the optimal environment for his development, a place where he could hone his skills and prepare for the rigors of the NBA.

Banchero’s single season at Duke was nothing short of spectacular. He earned second-team consensus All-American honors, was named ACC Rookie of the Year, and led the Blue Devils on a memorable run to the Final Four. His blend of size, skill, and court vision made him an immediate impact player, showcasing the talent that made him such a coveted recruit. The irony of his journey, however, reached its peak in the Final Four, where Duke faced off against North Carolina in what would be Krzyzewski’s final game. In a twist of fate, the Tar Heels emerged victorious in that epic encounter, a loss that Banchero has since admitted continues to “haunt” him. This defeat, while painful for Duke fans, serves as a poignant footnote to Banchero’s surprising early preference, a full-circle moment where his childhood favorite ultimately delivered a crushing blow to his collegiate dreams.

Beyond his time at Duke, Banchero’s journey continues to intertwine with the legacy of North Carolina. After being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, he signed a multi-year footwear and apparel deal with Jordan Brand. This partnership is significant, as Jordan Brand is, of course, founded by Michael Jordan, the undisputed legend of North Carolina basketball. For a player who once rooted for the Tar Heels to now be associated with the very face of their storied program, even after starring for their archrival, adds another layer of intrigue to Banchero’s narrative. He expressed his excitement about the partnership, recognizing the “greatness that is associated with that brand” and how it aligns with his own aspirations for building “my own greatness.”

Paolo Banchero’s admission regarding his childhood liking for North Carolina before his celebrated tenure at Duke is a compelling anecdote that humanizes the often-impersonal world of elite sports recruitment. It reminds us that even future legends are shaped by early influences and that the path to greatness is rarely linear or predictable. His story underscores the complex interplay of personal connections, strategic decisions, and unexpected circumstances that ultimately determine a player’s collegiate destination. While his loyalty to Duke is now unwavering, the revelation of his early Tar Heel affinity offers a unique perspective on one of college basketball’s most iconic figures and the legendary rivalry he inadvertently became a part of from both sides of the divide. It’s a testament to the fact that even in the most intense rivalries, the lines can sometimes be blurred by a simple childhood attachment to a color, a team, and a coach’s influence.