Little makes it official: UNC

WINSTON-SALEM -- Carver High School forward Camille Little officially announced her commitment to UNC today.

Under a Carolina blue sky, on the steps of their family church, Elaine Little watched her daughter Camille fulfill a dream for both of them. The 6-1 forward committed to play basketball at North Carolina.

Camille Little poses for a shot with her dad Robert and her mom Elaine.

Surrounded by her family, friends and church community, Little read a statement she had prepared, thanking everyone for their support and love -- even thanking the other schools who had recruited her because it helped her believe in her talent even more.

"That's where I really wanted her to go... if you cut us, we bleed blue," Elaine, dressed in Carolina blue, chuckled after the announcement.

A Carolina fan for 41 years, Elaine tried not to let that influence the process. "I was willing to look all over the place. I wasn't going to make the decision for her," she said.

Carver's Camille Little announces for the Tar Heels

And all over the place was about right - interest in Camille's talent came from everywhere. She averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds a game last year for Winston-Salem (N.C.) Carver, and was named All-state for the 2nd consecutive year. She was the Dell Curry Holiday Tournament MVP with 31 points and had the game-winning basket with 9.9 seconds left in the second overtime, handing 4-A champ Freedom one of only two losses that year.

As a sophomore, she averaged 17 points a game and 8 rebounds while helping Carver to the North Carolina 3-A title.

During the 1998-99 season before Camille arrived, Carver won one game. With Little and former Carver teammate and Wake Forest freshman Porsche Jones, Carver's athletic director Alfred Poe reminded everyone they've gone 80-8 with a state title in the past three years.

Carver AD Alfred Poe praising Little for her actions on and off the court

She's also played top notch national level talent. Suiting up for the Team North Carolina AAU with Jones and fellow UNC verbals Mary Hall McArver and Ivory Latta, they won their AAU national championship.

It'll be a change to play against Jones in the future and Little is looking forward to facing her friend, but she said "It'll be good for us."

She's even more excited about playing with her other friends, McArver and Latta.

Camille visited Tennessee, N.C. State and UNC on unofficial visits but narrowed it to UNC or N.C. State. And at times, she was leaning towards N.C. State.

But the pull of the Tar Heels and the chance to join her friend Ivory Latta was too much. "She's one of the people who really pushed me and made me aware of Carolina. I was kind of leaning towards N.C. State at the time but knowing Ivory and our friendship, and how I wanted to play with her... well, that was a big factor. "

A family friend gives Camille Carolina Blue roses

And in fact, Ivory and Camille actually made their decisions long ago and kept them secret. Both committed during basketball season last spring. "We knew a long time ago but we wanted to keep it a secret... I verbalized during my unofficial visit for a game. We walked around the campus and ate lunch. Before I left we went to the office to talk."

Turns out, Ivory told Camille she had silently committed to Carolina the weekend before and that had a big impact on her. "So I thought about it and we talked about it. And I decided to go ahead."

Little says she already visits UNC for football and basketball games regularly and has bonded with the women's team already. "I've talked to all the girls a lot and they are nice people, down to earth ladies."

In early November, Little will take an official visit to UNC. She thinks she might major in Recreation with a minor in Radio, Television and Motion pictures.