JP Tokoto (UNC) and Trevon Duvall (Duke) were among two dozen N.C. players in the 12th annual The Basketball Tournament (TBT) that runs July 18-Aug. 3. There are 64 teams competing in eight regions for $1M, like the recent TST in Cary. Tokoto plays for Hard Time (WV Regional) and Duvall X-Rayted (Lexington)…NCAA approved 32-game schedule for men/women teams starting in 2026-27. That’s an increase of one game …UNC alum Scott Whisnant has a new book, “Tar Heel Bred: How Basketball Made a Man Out of Me” (318 pages, paperback, from Bareface Publishing, $22). The book recounts his life as a Carolina fan…Louisville (3 players) was ranked fourth, NC State 13 (8) for Best Transfer Class by espn.com in early June. St. John’s was first, Kentucky second, Michigan third…Phil Ford Jr. received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Gov. Josh Stein for his contributions to North Carolina. He was one of nine Tar Heel citizens honored by the governor in June…Cleveland native and a former Cavalier Jawad Williams joined the Cavaliers staff as an assistant coach…Duke women’s coach Kara Lawson is coaching the U.S. AmeriCup team this summer in Chile where they can qualify for the FIBA World Cup next summer in Germany…Coach K’s last remaining Duke recruit Stanley Borden, a 7/0 walkon, transferred to UTSA…Tyler Hansbrough, now a pickleball guru, is doing clinics and personal appearances often with his brother Ben to promote the sport…Eight ACC players (5 from Duke, one each from Fla. State, Stanford, UNC) were selected in the NBA Draft…RJ Davis, a free agent, signed an Exhibit 10 two-way contract with the LA Lakers…Drake Powell, drafted and traded to Brooklyn, injured his knee and will not play in the NBA Summer League…