UNC's 3rd-best ballhandler? Right now, a 6-10 forward

CHAPEL HILL --So who is North Carolina's third-best ballhandler?

Right now, it's 6-feet-10 forward John Henson, believe it or not.

After junior point guard Larry Drew II's surprising transfer last week, UNC held a good-natured competition in practice to find another ballhandler, since freshman Kendall Marshall and sophomore Dexter Strickland (the starting shooting guard) are the only two left with experience.

"We had a one-possession trial between Z [Tyler Zeller], John Henson, Harrison [Barnes], Leslie [McDonald], Justin Watts - we didn't get Justin Knox in there, he has a class on Monday and misses practice on Monday,'' coach Roy Williams said. "And after that trial, John Henson is the leading candidate."

Henson admits that Barnes and Reggie Bullock, both wings, knew how to handle the ball, "but they didn't know the play,'' Henson said, grinning. "So I think Coach was impressed with me and Z for knowing it."

Henson does have some experience at the point. The sophomore from Tampa, Fla., played it in eighth grade, before his growth spurt turned him into a forward.

"So that maybe will play in a decision sometime down the road,'' he said, laughing.

All kidding aside, Williams does admit the team needs to spend some time figuring how who its third ballhandling option would be, just in case of foul trouble or injuries. Without Drew, the team is down to nine scholarship players.

-- Robbi Pickeral