CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina tailback Greg Little began practicing with the basketball team Thursday, but coach Roy Williams said it will take a while longer to decide whether the freshman becomes a fixture on the bench.
“He can’t come close to catching up for at least three weeks, and at the end of that three-week period, we’ll make a decision whether it’s good for him to continue or not," Williams said Friday.
Little, who was not available for comment, was a three-sport standout at Northern Durham High, where he also ran track. He began the football season as a wide receiver under coach Butch Davis, but switched to tailback the last two games. In the finale vs. Duke, he became only Tar Heel tailback to run for 100 or more individually in a game all season.
The last Tar Heels to play both football and basketball were receivers Brooks Foster and Jesse Holley, who earned national championship rings in 2005. Both chose to concentrate fully on football after that season.
Right now, Williams said, Little has more than a little catching up to do.
“We have 16 variations of secondary break; he has zero,’’ Williams said. “And yesterday, it was so funny, everybody on the blue team was trying to help him, and he was so confused he could put on a helmet and not know which was to look out. Again, he has no hope until he learns what’s going on, and that’s going to take quite a while. He’s got wonderful athleticism, and he’s a wonderful kid. He has some speed and quickness, and we’ll just wait and see.”
