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When James Michael McAdoo decided to forgo his senior season, it became clear that North Carolina would rely more on rising sophomore Kennedy Meeks to anchor the frontcourt in 2014-15. As a freshman, Meeks played about 16 minutes per game while averaging a solid 7.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per night.
But the McDonald's All-American seemed capable of more, and now it appears he might be ready to break out. A year ago, he arrived at North Carolina weighing 317 pounds, and by the time the season started was still listed at 290.
In the midst of what appears to be a productive offseason, Meeks says he's now down to around 270, which can be seen clearly in this before-and-after photo, courtesy of InsideCarolina.
A svelte Meeks has the opportunity to get significantly more playing time and make more of his time on the court. A year ago, few could have expected to see him throwing down windmill dunks, whether it be in a game or even in practice. Saturday, this showed up on his Instagram channel:
The transformation is stark for sure, but Meeks' goal for this year is simple:
"To do what I did last year, but a lot more," he said in a 1-on-1 interview with the UNC Athletic Department.
Watch the full interview with the Tar Heels' 6'9 forward here: