Though Dontrez Styles signed with UNC this past fall, and has been committed to the Tar Heels for more than a year, his interactions with Hubert Davis have been limited.
That changed a few hours after Davis’s introductory press conference on Tuesday, when he spoke to the Kinston, N.C. native for the first time as UNC’s head coach.
“It was a great conversation,” Styles told Inside Carolina. “He told me a little bit more about himself, about how and why he got the job. Just stuff like that. He said he’s really trying to get to know more about me. I knew he was a great person just from hearing all the former players talk about him. They really love him. I can’t wait to get up there and meet him and talk to him face to face. He was saying he needs some dogs that can help the program. He wants guys who play hard, bring toughness, so we can try to get back to the Carolina Way. Like winning a bunch of games and national championships.”
Styles, a 6-foot-7 forward, was ranked the No. 61 overall player in the 2021 class according to the 247Sports Composite. He picked Carolina over offers from Clemson, Georgetown, Maryland, N.C. State, Ole Miss. Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, and Wake Forest. He joins former UNC standouts Jerry Stackhouse and Reggie Bullock as Kinston natives to end up at Carolina.
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“He said his plan was to just develop me,” added Styles about his conversation with Davis. “He said I check a lot of the boxes he’s looking for. He’s ready to coach me and he thinks I’m going to be a big-time player.”
While the details on the style of play Davis plans to implement has not yet been publicly fleshed out, Davis has repeatedly said it will be built on the foundation of Roy Williams and Dean Smith’s systems. Prior to the coaching search, Styles slotted as a hybrid forward (a wing or power forward with the capability to play both positions).
“We didn’t get too much into what he’s going to do,” said Styles. “But he said I’m a mismatch. That I could be a small-ball ‘4’ when I have a smaller guard on me, or like a ‘2’ or a ‘3’ when there’s a big on me. He wants me to be able to guard ‘1’ through ‘5’ and just be a very versatile player.”
Styles and fellow signee D’Marco Dunn are expected to enroll – and arrive in Chapel Hill – for the second summer session in mid-June. Dunn also confirmed to Inside Carolina he spoke with Davis earlier this week. But, between now and then, they may have a score to settle.
“I talked to D’Marco last night,” Styles said, “and we both want to wear No. 3. I don’t know how we’re going to figure it out. Maybe we’ll play for it.”
Styles missed out on a chance at winning a state title as a junior when the season was cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The same thing almost happened as a senior, but for far different reasons. He missed three weeks after a scary, concussion-inducing fall in Kinston’s season opener on Jan. 8. He returned on Jan. 29, leading Kinston to the state playoffs before a first-round exit.
“It was the toughest time of my life, honestly,” Styles said. “That was really the first time I’ve had adversity like that. Being out made me think about how blessed I am. But I got through it and I thank God. I thank Coach (Roy) Williams and Coach (Steve) Robinson for checking in on me, and for the doctors. The season was strange. Our game’s always packed and having no fans was kinda weird. What happened in the first game was crazy, but we turned it back around. It was still a good season.”
Since the loss, Styles has been preparing for the rigors of ACC basketball. He does a form of training every day, a necessity considering he could be forced into action at the ‘4’ as a freshman.
“I’ve been working out hard,” he said. “Trying to condition my body a lot. Trying to get my shot consistent, getting stronger, working on every aspect of my game. I think every part of my game is good, but I’ve just gotta make my jump shot more consistent.”
Styles doesn’t consider himself a recruiter and is pretty introverted outside of his closest circle. He’s not the type to bug a player about coming to Carolina. However, he did make one recruiting pitch for UNC this week.
“I texted him (Walker Kessler) the other day,” Styles said, “and just told him we needed him back.”
