Wake Forest Legend Chris Paul Reveals UNC Asked Him To Walk On [Watch]
Chris Paul, one of the most talented point guards in the NBA, attended Wake Forest University to play college basketball. As a high school standout, Paul had received attention from many top basketball programs, including the University of North Carolina. However, despite Carolina’s interest in him, Paul ultimately chose Wake Forest because it was a better fit for him both academically and athletically.
While Paul was thriving at Wake Forest, Carolina’s basketball program remained on his radar. In fact, during his freshman year, Carolina reached out to Paul and asked him to consider walking on to their team.
“Carolina wanted me to walk on. They asked me if I would walk on, yeah we couldn’t afford that,” said Paul during an interview with Diani Taurasi and Sue Bird on ESPN 2 coverage of the Women’s National Championship.
Diana Taurasi asked was Dean Smith the one who asked him to walk on.
Paul added, “Nah it was Matt Doherty at the time.”
However, Paul declined the offer, as he was already happy and successful at Wake Forest. Ultimately, Paul’s decision to attend Wake Forest paid off, as he became one of the most accomplished players in school history and went on to have a highly successful NBA career.
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
His bylines have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Heavy.com, Meta’s Bulletin and One37pm, where he has contributed exclusive interviews, breaking news and cultural insights. At Heavy.com, his work drew more than a million views in just eight months, and at One37pm, it contributed to record-breaking traffic numbers.
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