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The Zayden High situation is tough for all parties involved.
No official word yet, but speculation is rife that the 6-9 forward will return to the UNC basketball program this coming season. That is premature.
High left the team and school during the 2024 season and, after much digging and FOIA requests by the media, we now know that his suspension from Carolina was for one semester as a result of a female student’s accusation of sexual exploitation during a consensual visit in his dorm room.
This has happened before at UNC and to countless other students around the country and not necessarily athletes who have more to lose publicly. Freshman Jalek Felton left UNC during the 2017-18 season for what resulted in a more severe allegation. Felton never returned to Carolina.
The News & Observer published a long story about the incident last week and, IN MY OPINION, it was unjust to everyone. High admitted he acted improperly with the other student, whose family is now complaining that UNC’s Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office (EOC) has not closely monitored the sanctions, which included no contact with Tar Heel basketball.
High has been seen working out at the Smith Center but not with current or former players, and he is allowed to eat at a UNC cafeteria and use some equipment, per EOC and university policy. Since the suspension came after the 2024 fall semester started, it is unclear if he was in school for the spring semester and if he will be eligible to play this fall.
Here is why it may be unfair to all involved. The female student said she saw High at the Smith Center and understandably felt uncomfortable; an example of where a high-profile athlete’s status is a double-edged sword.
The female student’s name was not released and, hopefully, the story will fade from public scrutiny. But High will carry the charge and suspension in every inch of his 230-pound frame. It will follow him through any remaining time as a Tar Heel, will come up with other teams trying him out and will live on his personal record for businesses interviewing him for a job.
The N&O did its usual in-depth story, but the amount of detail has made some readers (including me) think it was too much for someone who did not receive a stricter penalty than a one semester suspension. Accounts of other incidents of this nature have included stronger language regarding any physical contact between participants and much stiffer penalties.
Unofficial pro-Carolina social media sites are celebrating High’s return, which is inappropriate at this point because probation terms are still being reviewed by UNC and, again, there has been no official statement by the basketball program that High will be a member of the 2025-26 team.
The violation was committed, investigations pursued, and penalties assessed. High will be judged by the court of public opinion, so for him it’s far from over.
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Featured image via Todd Melet
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Chansky’s Notebook: Time to Heal? Chapelboro.com.
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