Freshman Maximo Adams brings the energy as UNC handles USC in exhibition opener

North Carolina freshman Maximo Adams came off the bench and gave the Tar Heels the push they needed in Friday night's basketball exhibition opener. He finished with 11 points and six rebounds as UNC beat USC 88-70 in Greensboro.

USC, the Big Ten program that also has a football team covered on this site, jumped out early. As On3's Inside Carolina reported, the Trojans led 10-3 about three minutes into Michael Malone's first game as North Carolina's head coach. That was when Malone sent Adams to the scorer's table. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound wing is a McDonald's All-American and On3's No. 29 player in the 2026 class. He was a priority for Malone to keep after the coach took over in Chapel Hill in April, mostly because of his size and versatility.

Adams showed both, but his effort is what Inside Carolina's Spencer Haskell singled out. Adams got onto the stat sheet first on the offensive glass. His first college basket came after he drove left, kicked the ball out to an open Jarin Stevenson on the right wing, and then sealed USC guard Rodney Rice inside. When Stevenson's 3-pointer rattled out, Adams grabbed the rebound and forced in the putback.

He played 18 minutes, the second-most among UNC's reserves, and his plus-13 was the second-best mark on the team. Three of his six rebounds were offensive, which is worth noting for a program that ranked 159th nationally in offensive rebounding rate last season under Hubert Davis. He also stretched the floor, going 2-for-4 from 3-point range on catch-and-shoot looks.

In his first press conference as a Tar Heel on Monday, Adams said he had never really been a bench player before. He said adjusting to that role is part of the job, and that the hustle plays come down to wanting it. "Those are effort plays, you can't really teach those things," Adams said, according to Inside Carolina. He added that reading the timing of a shot and how it comes off the rim still takes close attention.

His best defensive moment came against one of USC's top players. Less than five minutes into his debut, Adams was left alone on Rice, a senior and preseason first-team All-Big Ten pick. Rice went through a series of dribble moves and hesitations, but Adams stayed in front of him and forced a shot-clock violation. Adams said he is reserved off the court, yet he reacted loudly to that stop. After his first basket he roared and pounded his chest with both fists.

USC can learn something from this one too. Rice is expected to anchor the Trojans in the Big Ten this winter, and he spent part of the night being slowed by a freshman making his college debut. Exhibition results don't count, but a slow start against a rebuilt North Carolina roster gives the Trojans something to fix before conference play.

For North Carolina, the takeaway is simpler. Malone found an early answer off the bench in a player who is fine with whatever role he gets, so long as he can play hard in his minutes and make winning plays.