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For the first time this decade, Duke and North Carolina each had a player selected in the NBA Drafts 14 lottery picks.
Last week, the months-long question of where the blue bloods stars would land was answered when Memphis selected Dukes Cameron Boozer third overall, and Chicago immediately followed by selecting UNCs Caleb Wilson with the fourth pick.
The picks completed a top four class that was maybe more predictable by name rather than order.
As BYUs AJ Dybansta, now a Wizard, and Kansas Darryn Peterson, now a member of the Jazz, dominated college-season and pre-draft discourse over who was going No.
1, Boozer and Wilson established their positions right behind them.
Boozer had the numbers, consistency and the accolades.
The National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year and the first-team All-ACC honoree averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 55.6% from the floor and 39.1% from 3.
Wilson, who was also first-team All-ACC and was the first UNC freshman to make at least second-team All-America since Tyler Hansbrough in 2006, led the Tar Heels in average points (19.8) and rebounds (9.4) while shooting 57.8% from the field.
His athleticism, defensive motor and ability to hit from midrange all contributed to his high stock, despite missing the NCAA Tournament due to a fractured thumb.
When it comes to the number of selections, Duke earned another win over its rival in the latest draft.
Duke landed two more draftees with Isaiah Evans going early in the second round (33rd overall) to Minnesota (the pick was traded to the Timberwolves by Brooklyn) and Maliq Brown going 44th overall to San Antonino, the reigning Western Conference champions.
Meanwhile, UNCs only other selection was Henri Veesaar, who was sent to Atlanta with the 52nd overall pick (the pick was traded from the Clippers to the Hawks).
Evans slide to the second round was one of the surprises from the draft as he had a seat in the green room during Round 1 and was included in the group photo with other prospects expecting to hear their name called that night.
Nevertheless, hell have a chance to add depth and learn from a talented guard tandem of Anthony Edwards and former Charlotte star LaMelo Ball.
In his sophomore season with the Blue Devils, Evans stepped into a starting role and averaged 15 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
Veesaars draft fate also caught attention as the 6-foot, 11-inch center was expected to come off the board between the late first round and mid second round.
After a solid season for UNC in which he averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 42.6% from 3, he could have returned to college and possibly improved his stock.
Instead, hell look to be the piece the Hawks hope can help them take the next step in the East.
Other locals selected in the draft include former high school and college players that spent time in North Carolina.
Vanderbilt forward Tyler Nickel, who transferred out of UNC after the 2022-23 season, went 47th overall to the defending champion Knicks.
Jayden Quaintance, the Kentucky forward who spent his sophomore season of high school at Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, was selected by the Spurs with the 20th overall pick in the first round.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley played two years at Cannon School in Concord and won the 2020 Gatorade North Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year honor before being selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 50th pick.
Following the draft, a few former college players from North Carolina have signed undrafted free agent deals.
UNC guard Seth Trimble signed with the Wizards.
Trimble averaged a career-high 14 points and 3.0 assists per game last season.
Quadir Copeland, who played at NC State last season, signed a two-way deal with the Rockets.
In his lone season with the Wolfpack, the guard averaged 13.9 points, 6.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game.
He shot 39.7% from 3.
Wake Forest forward TreVon Spillers signed a Summer League contract with the Cavaliers.
Spillers, who also played at App State, average 11.2 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 57% from the floor and 36.4% from 3 last season.
ECU center Giovanni Emejuru signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Nuggets.
Emejuru logged 12.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last winter.
His college teammate Jordan Riley signed an undrafted deal with the Pelicans after averaging 23.6 points, six rebounds and 2.5 assists as a guard this past year.