Brian Spurlock-USA Today Sports
With P.J. Hairston suspended indefinitely, a starting spot at the wing is opened up. Sophomore guard J.P. Tokoto will have a chance to prove himself early in the season and earn himself that starting spot on North Carolina.
Tokoto is an athletic, high -lying guard who has the potential of being one of the most exciting players in college basketball when he is able to fully adapted to the speed and quickness of the college game.
He showed how good he could be at times last season, but then there were also times when he did absolutely nothing productive on the court.
Tokoto is a guy who can become a fan favorite and really be a momentum-shifting player, which is crucial for a team to have. Whenever someone’s dunking ability is ever compared to the great Vince Carter, you have to give him a shot as a fan. Tokoto is just that, he may be a great dunker, but he does need to improve on other aspects of the offensive end if he wants to start.
Last season, he averaged 2.6 points per game and grabbed 1.7 rebounds per contest in just over eight minutes of action a game. He did shoot 49 percent from the field, though, which is a positive.
With Tokoto being one of the few returning players capable of playing Hairston’s position, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be going into workouts with that starting job on his mind. His sophomore status will certainly give him an advantage over the incoming freshman as well.
