The blue bloods missed on Klay Thompson during the recruiting process. The Golden State Warriors star, though, apparently doesn't hold it against them. Asked which teams would meet in the championship game of the 2019 NCAA Tournament during March Madness, Thompson chose the matchup that the basketball world wants to see most.
Klay Thompson says he has Duke and UNC in the NCAA title game.
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) March 21, 2019
The Los Angeles native was only a four-star recruit in high school despite leading Santa Margarita Catholic High School to a state championship, earning state player of the year and EA Sports Second Team All-American honors in the process.
He went on to play two seasons at Washington State, failing to lead the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament in both of his seasons in Pullman.
Perhaps that's why Thompson harbors no ill-will toward the Blue Devils and Tar Heels for overlooking him in high school. On the other hand, maybe he just wants to see Mike Krzyzewski's star freshmen go head-to-head against Roy Williams' veteran squad for a third time this season.
North Carolina won the season series 2-1, though neither victory came with Duke at full strength.
Zion Williamson infamously busted out of his shoe in the opening minute of the rivals' first meeting on February 20th, leaving the game with a sprained knee. The Tar Heels went on to win 88-72. Williamson remained sidelined for the teams' next matchup on March 9th, a 79-70 North Carolina victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The best analogue in deciding the winner of a potential title game tilt between the Tobacco Road powers came in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament, when Williamson led the Blue Devils to a nail-biting 74-73 win with 31 points and 11 rebounds.
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