CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — When the 2018 signing period ended, North Carolina boasted one of the best recruiting classes in the country.
Headlined by phenom Nassir Little, Roy Williams' roster appeared balanced with veteran leadership and raw, freshman talent most coaches can only dream of.
But it has been another freshman who has stolen the spotlight to become a Heels fan favorite: Coby White.
MORE: Three takeaways from UNC's upset victory over Gonzaga
White's emergence as the preeminent freshman on the Heels' roster isn’t completely unfounded. The 25th-best recruit according to 247sports' Composite rankings, White had high expectations ever since he stepped foot on campus in Chapel Hill, and he has done nothing but shatter them.
The Goldsboro, N.C., product has flourished just over a month into his first season and doesn't seem to be slowing down, averaging 15.3 points and 3.6 assists per game. He's also making 41.9 percent of his 3-point attempts.
"I feel my confidence is getting higher and higher," White said after 12th-ranked Carolina’s 103-90 win over No. 4 Gonzaga on Saturday. "I'm feeling more comfortable on the court."
That confidence was on full display against the Bulldogs as White logged 15 points and six assists in 22 minutes. At no point was it more on display than with 3:08 remaining in the second half. White missed two free throws, but then Luke Maye pulled down the offensive board. Cameron Johnson kicked the ball right back out to White, who seemingly forgot he just missed two free throws and sent the Dean Dome into a frenzy with a no-hesitation 3.
MORE: No slowing down for Roy Williams at UNC
"He gets the ball — and you guys can see it — Coby’s out," junior guard Kenny Williams said. "He's not waiting for anybody … every time he gets the ball."
Saturday's game wasn't the Heels' first taste of that aggressive play. Against Texas in Las Vegas, White dropped 33 points while turning it over just twice. The Heels lost the game, but White’s performance didn’t go unnoticed.
"I think it's forced us to play harder," Kenny Williams said of White, "and play faster on offense because we have to keep up with him."
White followed that up with a 19-point game against UCLA, against whom he dished out a season-high eight assists. White's tenacious playmaking and scoring ability have propelled the Heels' offense to a nation-leading 674 assists this season and a scoring average of 93.3 points per game — third in all of Division I entering Saturday.
JANOWER: Little can take UNC to next level
White also faced the difficult task of following in the footsteps of Joel Berry II, who was a three-year starter and helped Carolina to back-to-back national championship appearances. But much like his predecessor in the Heels’ last game against Gonzaga, White’s performance found Carolina in the win column after a slow start to the season.
"We finally got that big win that we’ve wanted so bad," White said. "I feel like our confidence is high right now and that it will carry over."
It remains to be seen how far that confidence can carry White. Early indications, however, suggest he — and the Tar Heels — will go far.