
Sean May, a former basketball player for the University of North Carolina, has strong ties to the state. May, who played centre for the Tar Heels from 2003 to 2005, led the team to its fourth national championship in 2005, scoring 26 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the title game against the University of Illinois. May's father, Scott, played for the Indiana basketball team and won the 1976 NCAA championship, making them one of four father-son duos to win NCAA titles. May returned to the University of North Carolina in 2015 as the director of player development and has since held various coaching roles. Another notable basketball player with ties to North Carolina is Luke Maye, who helped the state university win the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship. Maye's three younger brothers have also excelled in sports, with one playing for the Carolina basketball team.
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Sean May, former Tar Heels basketball player
Sean May is a former basketball player for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he played as the starting center from 2003 to 2005. May had a successful high school basketball career at Bloomington North High School in Bloomington, Indiana, where he was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball, Gatorade Player of the Year, and Indiana Basketball News Player of the Year as a senior. He also earned McDonald's and Parade All-America honours and was a three-time all-state selection.
At North Carolina, May continued to excel, averaging 14.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in his first two seasons. He became the first sophomore to lead the ACC in rebounding in 10 years and earned second-team All-ACC and second-team All-America honours in 2004. In 2005, May led the Tar Heels to their fourth national championship, scoring 26 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the title game against the University of Illinois. For his outstanding performance, he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 NCAA tournament.
Following his junior year, May entered the NBA Draft, where he was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Bobcats. He played 119 NBA games over four seasons, with his career-high scoring performance coming against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. May also played professionally overseas. After his playing career, he returned to the University of North Carolina in 2015 as the director of player development, later transitioning to the role of Director of Basketball Operations in 2017. In 2021, he was promoted to one of the three on-the-bench assistant coach positions.
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Sean May, Director of Basketball Operations at UNC
Sean Gregory May is a former professional basketball player and the current assistant basketball coach at the University of North Carolina. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Bloomington, Indiana. May played at Bloomington North High School, where he won Mr. Basketball honours in the state of Indiana in 2001 and was a three-time all-state selection.
May entered the NBA Draft after his junior season at the University of North Carolina, where he played for the Tar Heels basketball team from 2003 to 2005. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 NCAA tournament after leading North Carolina to its fourth national championship. May graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2009 with a B.A. in African-American studies. Due to injuries, his NBA career spanned just 119 games over four seasons, and he also played professionally overseas.
May is in his third season as an assistant coach at Carolina. Before this role, he served as the director of basketball operations for four seasons under former coach Roy Williams. May has been on staff for the entirety of Armando Bacot’s college career and has developed a special relationship with the fifth-year senior. May has said that he places an emphasis on film study and technology to enhance practice and player development, and he has helped lead the charge on the UNC team’s technology upgrades.
May is one of four father-son combinations to win NCAA titles. His father, Scott, was the 1976 National Player of the Year and led Indiana to an undefeated season and the NCAA title. May and his wife, Grace, have four daughters.
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Luke Maye, helped UNC win the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship
Luke Maye was instrumental in helping the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels win the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship. Maye, a sophomore at the time, was named the South Regional Most Outstanding Player and hit a game-winning shot to beat Kentucky, securing UNC's place in the Final Four. This was the second consecutive year that UNC had reached the Final Four.
Maye's contributions to the team extended beyond this crucial shot. He was a versatile player who consistently put up impressive numbers in various categories. During the 2017 NCAA Tournament, he averaged 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds, shooting 48.7% from the floor. He scored in double figures three times in the tournament, including a 17-point performance against Kentucky in the Elite Eight. Maye also had a key defensive rebound late in the game against Kentucky, showcasing his all-around impact.
In the regular season, Maye demonstrated his ability to lead the team in multiple areas. Against Arkansas and Tulane, he led UNC in points, rebounds, and assists, a feat that no Tar Heel had achieved since Reggie Bullock in 2013. Maye's shooting efficiency was also notable, as he shot over 50% from the floor in wins and nearly 42% from the three-point line across the entire season.
Maye's performance in the 2017 NCAA Tournament and throughout the season showcased his improvement as a player. He won UNC's Danny Green Award as the team's most improved player, recognizing his growth from his freshman to sophomore year. Maye's impact on the court, combined with his dedication to his studies, earned him the Tyler Zeller Award as the team's top student-athlete.
Maye's journey to becoming a crucial member of the championship-winning team is remarkable. He committed to UNC without knowing if he would receive a scholarship, and head coach Roy Williams ultimately offered him a full scholarship. Maye's hard work and determination paid off, and he played a pivotal role in UNC's 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship victory.
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Sean May's career in the NBA
Sean Gregory May, born on April 4, 1984, is a former American professional basketball player and current assistant basketball coach at the University of North Carolina. May's career in the NBA began when he was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2005 NBA draft, forgoing his senior year at UNC. He started his career strongly, being named MVP of the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league. However, an injury in December of his rookie season cut his progress short.
May faced further setbacks when he underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee in 2007, causing him to miss the entire 2007-2008 NBA season. The effects of the surgery lingered, and he experienced conditioning problems, tiredness, and tendinitis during the 2008-2009 season. On December 30, 2008, May was deemed physically unfit to play, and Bobcats coach Larry Brown placed him on the inactive list.
In July 2012, May signed with Paris-Levallois Basket of France, reuniting with his former college teammate Jawad Williams. However, during the 2013-2014 season, he played only one game due to injury. May then signed with SPO Rouen Basket in November 2014 but left shortly after and joined Orléans Loiret Basket for the remainder of the season.
May's playing career ended in 2010, having earned at least $8,768,068 during his time in the NBA. He averaged 6.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. After his playing career, May transitioned into coaching and took up a position at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, in 2015. He served as the director of player development for two years before becoming the Director of Basketball Operations in 2017. In April 2021, he was promoted to one of the three on-the-bench assistant coach positions.
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Drake Maye, quarterback at UNC
Drake Maye is an American professional football quarterback who plays for the New England Patriots in the NFL. Maye was born on August 30, 2002, in Huntersville, North Carolina, and grew up in a highly athletic family. He attended William A. Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina, before transferring to Myers Park High School in Charlotte, where he excelled in football and basketball. Maye was a four-star prospect and committed to play college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
In his freshman season at the University of North Carolina, Maye redshirted and appeared in four games behind starter Sam Howell. When Howell departed for the NFL, Maye was named the starter for the 2022 season. He had a remarkable debut, throwing five touchdowns against Florida A&M and becoming the first UNC quarterback to achieve this feat in their first game. Maye continued to impress, leading the NCAA in total yards and setting single-season school records for passing yards and touchdowns. He was named the ACC Football Player of the Year and earned numerous other accolades, including the Manning Award Finalist and the Art Weiner Offensive MVP.
Following his outstanding college performance, Maye declared for the 2024 NFL Draft and was selected third overall by the New England Patriots. He signed a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $36.64 million. Maye initially served as a backup to veteran Jacoby Brissett but was named the starting quarterback in Week 8 of the 2024 season. In his first start against the Houston Texans, he threw for 243 yards with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, showcasing his potential. Maye's selection to play in the 2025 Pro Bowl Games further highlights his talent and promising future in the NFL.
Drake Maye's success as a quarterback at UNC and subsequent entry into the NFL continue the athletic legacy of his family. His father, Mark, played quarterback at UNC in the 1980s, and his brothers, Luke and Cole, have also achieved success in collegiate sports. Maye's athletic abilities and accomplishments at UNC have established him as a rising star in the football world.
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Frequently asked questions
Sean May played for the University of North Carolina's basketball team, the Tar Heels, from 2003 to 2005. In 2004, he became the first sophomore in 10 years to lead the ACC in rebounding. He went on to play for the NBA but was limited to 119 games over four seasons due to injuries. May returned to the University of North Carolina in 2015 as the director of player development and has since been promoted to one of the on-bench assistant spots.
Luke Maye helped North Carolina win the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship. In the Elite Eight game against Kentucky, he hit the game-winning jump shot with only 0.3 seconds left in the game.
Sean May's father, Scott May, played for the Indiana basketball team at the University of North Carolina. He won the NCAA basketball championship in 1976, the same year he was named the National Player of the Year. May's brother, Drake, was also selected third overall by the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft.











































