CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –– For just the second time in his tenure as North Carolina’s head coach, Hubert Davis will coach against a player he once recruited to Chapel Hill when the Tar Heels visit N.C. State tomorrow.
Dontrez Styles, who played his first two seasons with the Tar Heels, might also be the first player ever to make the transition from baby blue to red.
Playing limited minutes during his time in Chapel Hill, Styles transferred to Georgetown for the 2023-2024 season where he averaged 12.8 points and 5.8 rebounds – starting all 32 games for the Hoyas. However, NCSU head coach Kevin Keatts and his admirable run in the tournament last season prompted Styles to enter the portal again on April 15, 2024. Just three days later, the Kinston, N.C. native was picked up by the Wolfpack – making the return to his home state.
In his senior season, Styles’ level of production has dipped as he continues to adjust to Keatts scheme. The Wolfpack are 9-6 (2-2 ACC) on the season, giving up just one game at home, a 63-59 loss to Texas on Dec. 4, 2024.
In 15 games, Styles is averaging 9.6 points per game and 4.5 rebounds, his best offensive game came against Florida State where he contributed 21 points. But Styles doesn’t care how many points he scores, he simply wants the Wolfpack to improve on the win column.
“It’ll be fun to go out there with all the guys,” he said on Thursday. “I want to improve as a player and a team, because we’re going up against a good UNC team.”
This North Carolina team is not the same one Styles left two seasons ago, just three guys—RJ Davis, Seth Trimble and Jalen Washington—remain from 2023 squad. He still stays in touch with them and exchanges texts with his former coaches.
“We talk often, we all went bowling a couple of months ago,” Styles said with a grin. “They’re still my guys.”
But tomorrow they’ll be his foes. Styles says is unfazed going into tomorrow’s matchup and will treat this one like any other game.
“I’m excited to face Trez,” UNC guard RJ Davis after the win over SMU. “It’s been a long time and NC State is doing well.”
When asked about the process of planning to face Dontrez Styles, Hubert Davis said that nothing changes.
“There is no process, my outlook and my preparation is for N.C. State and our preparation is playing a good team tomorrow on their home floor,” he said.
N.C. State and UNC haven’t faced each other since the 2024 ACC Tournament championship game, where the Wolfpack capped off a five-game win streak with a 84-76 thrashing of the Tar Heels.
Styles is just one of eight newcomers on Keatts’ squad, but his unique position as a former Tar Heel adds an intriguing subplot to an already heated rivalry. The matchup tomorrow at Lenovo Center will test both his composure and ability to leverage his insider knowledge of UNC’s system.
The game tips off tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m., with both teams looking to make an early statement in conference play. While he says its just another game on the schedule, it’s also an opportunity to get the upperhand on his former team while helping his new one continue its momentum for last season.
