North Carolina Tar Heels guard P.J. Hairston issues apology

While he will still miss an untold number of games when the season begins, it was announced the other day that North Carolina Tar Heels guard P.J. Hairston will indeed be able to practice with his team after a long offseason that saw him run afoul of the law multiple times. Hairston released the following apology on Thursday:

"I am so sorry for the mistakes I made that brought such negative attention to the team, the University of North Carolina and my family. That’s not how I was brought up and it’s certainly not how Coach Williams expects us to represent this program. I know I let a lot of people down, including our fans and all the people who love not just the basketball team but UNC. I will do whatever I can to regain your faith in me and make sure that I represent the school and the Tar Heels with respect in the future. I appreciate Coach Williams giving me another chance to show that I can and will make better choices and decisions. I owe it to my mom, my dad, my coaches and teammates and every Tar Heel out there to make you proud to have me play basketball for Carolina. It was my dream as a kid and I would love more than anything to have that chance once again (USA Today Sports)."

The junior guard, who averaged nearly 15 points per game last season, was readmitted to the team by head coach Roy Williams. Also releasing a statement on Thursday, Williams praised Hairston’s willingness to accept his punishment. “In 26 years as a head coach, I’ve never made the demands on a young man that I have made of P.J.,” Williams said, adding that Hairston did everything he was asked to do in order to be reinstated.

[Source: USA Today Sports]