Special: How Jackson Watkins Lived the Walk On Dream at Carolina

For decades, kids across the south have dreamed of wearing the Carolina uniform every time they pick up a basketball. Jackson Watkins lived that dream. As a student who made the JV squad in Chapel Hill and eventually walked on to the Varsity roster, Watkins’ ride gave him rivalry wins, a Final Four, and other experiences that most couldn’t imagine. His journey led to his new book — Dream On: From Basketball to Biscuits — and he joins Joey Powell to talk about all that led to it.

The book is now available for preorder on Shopify by clicking here.

Show Rundown:
0:00 – Open
3:09 – Deciding to write the book
8:36 – Trying out
13:30 – The JV and Varsity experiences
25:45 – Life as a varsity player
32:58 – End of the bench shenanigans
41:49 – Retiring Coach K
46:01 – The 2022 NCAA run
59:02 – The loss of the JV Program
63:46 – What if?
68:08 – The big takeaway for readers

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We want to thank and acknowledge our main sponsor for this show:
–> Johnny T-shirt: the best place for Tar Heel gear, a Chapel Hill tradition since 1983, and 20-year partners with Inside Carolina. Visit them on Franklin Street or check out their big online store.

Inside Carolina produces an unprecedented lineup of regular programming dedicated to Tar Heel sports, available in both audio and video (live!) formats all within a single channel, featuring the top experts. Here’s the lineup, which is complemented by special roundtables, featured interviews, reaction episodes, and more throughout the year:

* The Day After (football) with Buck Sanders, Jason Staples, Tommy Ashley
* Schoett & Vipp (football) with Jeff Schoettmer and Taylor Vippolis
* The Game Plan (football) with Greg Barnes, Jason Staples, Tommy Ashley
* Noon Dish (football recruiting) with Don Callahan, Tommy Ashley
* Coast to Coast (basketball & recruiting) with Sherrell McMillan, Sean Moran, Joey Powell
* The Postgame (basketball) with Rob Harrington, Dewey Burke, Tommy Ashley
* Next Level (reporting) with Greg Barnes, Tommy Ashley

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