Neoklis Avdalas left Virginia Tech for the historic University of North Carolina and, in an interview with “SKWEEK”, describes his first days in Chapel Hill, the awe inspired by Michael Jordan’s college, and the big NBA dream that runs through the NCAA.
There are places in global basketball that carry history. And then there are places where history feels like it is everywhere around you. For Neoklis Avdalas, the University of North Carolina belongs firmly in the second category.
The journey to Chapel Hill began immediately after the end of last season at Virginia Tech. With his eyes set on the future, the young Greek guard faced an important dilemma: “After finishing the season with Virginia Tech, I came back to Greece for a few days to rest and think about my future: whether I would enter the draft or change college in order to have a better environment and a better season.”
Discussions with his representatives began quickly, and a decision soon followed: “I spoke early with my agents and we decided it would be better, since I had already gone through the draft process and know where I stand, to play one more year in college.”
Zoom calls with various NCAA programs followed. One of them, however, carried different weight: “I immediately started the Zoom calls, with North Carolina being one of the first colleges that wanted me. In fact, the first Zoom call was with coach Malone, so it was something special.”
There were still conversations to be had, options to consider, and decisions to make. But in his mind, things were already becoming clear:
“After hanging up the phone and knowing the history of UNC, I was determined to go. I spoke with my agent and we decided I would go to North Carolina with the goal of entering the draft the following year.”
And that is how he found himself at the university that produced Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Vince Carter, and dozens of other players who left their mark on world basketball.
The first thing one realizes upon arriving there is not the facilities or the trophies, it is the “weight” of history: “You feel the history as soon as you set foot on campus, on the courts.”
He did not take long to visit the university museum, one of his first stops: “When I first arrived, I went to the museum and seeing the whole college gave me extra motivation”.
That feeling does not fade after the first days of adjustment: “Walking into the gym makes you want to work even harder. It is awe-inspiring to play for North Carolina, and I still haven’t fully processed it because I’ve only been here a short time. But once the games start, I’m sure it will be a great experience”.
The name alone is enough to explain why North Carolina is considered one of the most iconic destinations in American college basketball:
“The name ‘North Carolina’ alone is a reason to want to come here. It’s a historic college that has produced legends. They know how to do it (how to send players to the NBA).”
For Avdalas, the choice was not only about the program’s prestige, but also about the opportunity to grow in an environment that could help him improve: “Coming to a better college, where we can potentially compete for a championship, will help me stand out, but also contribute so my teammates can do the same.”
At the core of it all, the NBA is always there, not as an obsession, but as the ultimate dream: “The NBA is a dream. I believe I’ve made huge steps in recent years. I feel like a different person, both physically and mentally.”
But the journey is measured not only by where you want to go, but by how far you have already come: “Rome wasn’t built in a day. I didn’t go to the NBA at 18. I’m still 20 years old, I’m still learning and developing. Last year I had a good season, although I wasn’t always consistent, but I learned from it—and my second year in the NCAA will be even better.”
Until the games begin, his daily routine remains simple: “Right now, since all the players haven’t arrived yet, my daily life is very simple. I wake up, do weights with the strength coach and individual training. Then the eight of us who are here do team practice.”
The day ends early: “I finish around 12, eat—everything is taken care of by the team—and go home, where I play video games and talk to my family. Simple things… The real ‘fun’ starts in November when the games begin.”
The future is ahead of him, but he prefers to take it step by step: “I see it as a dream, but I try to take it day by day. It’s hard to picture myself in the NBA, but I imagine myself as someone who passes the ball, makes teammates better, defends multiple positions, and generally does many things to help his team win.”
For now, however, his focus is entirely on North Carolina: “It’s still a distant goal. Right now, I’m working for the new college season.”
His new daily life already feels different compared to Virginia Tech: “It’s better than where I was before. I had a very nice year at Virginia Tech, but outside of basketball there wasn’t much to do. Here it’s different, and the weather is nice too.”
For an athlete, that matters. “It’s nice to have things outside of basketball so you can release pressure. Of course, it also depends on the person… Vassilis Spanoulis was all basketball” he said laughing.
And if there is something that makes this new challenge even more special, it is the presence of Alexandros Samodurov: “We are with Samodurov at the same agency, and I knew he wanted to come to college first. So I kept pushing my agent to let us play together, telling him we would have a great season.”
Their communication is daily, and he believes their partnership will help both of them: “We talk with ‘Samo’ every day. He knows we play well together. It’s also very important to have a Greek person by your side, on and off the court. College life is tough with basketball and studies, and I’m very happy we will be together this season.”
For Neoklis Avdalas, the journey toward the NBA and the realization of his big dream passes through the basketball “holy ground” of legendary North Carolina.
