Tatum originally preferred to join UCLA, but after the 137th-ranked high school player in the nation, Russell Westbrook, joined UCLA, he didn't want to go anymore. With Darren Collison already there, and now Westbrook, who was close to being top 100, he knew he would definitely have no chance if he went.
Over at North Carolina, with the era of the 'North Carolina Four' coming to an end, there were more opportunities for new recruits. Although North Carolina managed to snatch up Ty Lawson, the fifth-ranked high school player in the nation, other point guards were still not ranked higher than Tatum at over 280.
Zhang Yang hoped that Tatum would make it to the NBA in the future; a ranking of over 280 didn't mean he had no chance at all.
While looking at the rankings for the high school class of '06, he spotted a familiar name after the 250th spot—Stephen Curry, who had joined Davidson College.
