CHAPEL HILL – There was
a lot of Chatham County feel
in the air at the Dean Dome
on a recent Tuesday night in
Chapel Hill.
Cade Culberson of Siler City
was suited up for the Wake
Tech men’s basketball team,
a top-5 ranked squad in the
Junior College ranks, while
Rahman Mateen, also of Siler
City, is part of the UNC jayvee
men’s basketball team.
In the end, it was the UNC
jayvees taking an 80-64 victory
Jan. 15 over Wake Tech at the
Dean E. Smith Center, which
was missing four starters,
and had a fifth playing with a
severe shoulder injury. That, coupled with its fourth
game in six days, proved too
much for the Eagles to overcome.
It also allowed Culberson,
who went to Wake Tech on a
baseball scholarship, ample
playing time.
The freshman, who was discovered
by Wake Tech coach
Adam Wainwright while playing
in a scrimmage against the
Eagles women’s team, played
24 minutes and collected six
points, three rebounds and a
pair of steals.
Culberson, a graduate of
Chatham Charter, came in six
minutes into the contest and
quickly swished a left-handed
three-pointer from the left wing
right in front of UNC jayvee
coach Hubert Davis.
Three minutes later, Culberson
faked a three-point
attempt, beat his Tar Heel
defender down the left baseline
and slammed home a
two-handed dunk to delight
the UNC crowd filing in for
the varsity game against Notre
Dame later in the evening.
Culberson would go 1-for-
2 later in the opening half to
complete his scoring.
It was an exciting experience
for the local product and
lifelong Duke fan despite the
tough loss.
“It’s amazing to play in a
place which has had some
many great players and great
teams out here on the same
court,” Culberson said. “The
experience was awesome, you
grow up seeing the Dean Dome
on television, so to actually
play here was special.”
Culberson knows his team
must get back to full strength
as the second half of the season
begins.
“We were missing a lot of
players tonight, hopefully we
will be back at full strength
soon,” he said. “I think we
can make a run in the (JUCO)
playoffs.”
Culberson will step out onto the baseball diamond this
spring as soon as basketball
is finished. The freshman southpaw
hurler is young for
his age and will possibly
redshirt for the Eagles
diamond squad.
“Right now it hasn’t
been decided,” Culberson
said. “I wouldn’t mind
redshirting and getting a
year older and stronger,
but I also would love to
play. So it will all work
out for the best.”
Mateen, meanwhile,
transferred from the men’s
basketball team at Davidson
Community College.
The Jordan-Matthews
graduate will redshirt this
winter while being a part
of the UNC jayvee team,
and then will have two
years left to play for the
Tar Heels.
“I’m getting adjusted to
school and the academics
now, and will have two
years to play,” said Mateen.
“It’s been a great experience
so far and I love it.”
Mateen did admit it
would be the accomplishment
of a major goal to
make the UNC varsity
team before he finishes
his career as a Tar Heel.
“That’s the ultimate
goal and would be a
dream come true,” added
Mateen. “So I’m going
to work hard to obtain
that goal and see what
happens. Regardless, this
is a great experience.”
Mateen’s twin brother,
Rahim, plays football at
Averett University, while
his older sister, Aquilla,
played softball at UNC
and is an assistant coach
for the Tar Heel softball
team. She is married to
former Carolina basketball
player Joel James.
