Testimonial

"I am involved with CarolinaPros because I've always wanted to see the best Carolina basketball players of today and of years past play any other team of ACC players. Because I know the ACC is still the best Conference in the nation. And I want to prove to the country that North Carolina Tar Heel Basketball is and always will be the dominant force in Division I basketball!" - Jason, Central Illinois-

Link: Grand Opening CPI Office

The Tar Heel basketball family of alumni now has a home on Franklin St. Jerry Stackhouse and Carolina Pros Inc. celebrated the opening of its new office Tuesday evening at 214 W. Franklin St.

Read more of Carolina Pros Opens On Franklin St.

News & Observer article: Tex-Mex gives way to charity

By LISA HOPPENJANS, News & Observer Staff Writer

CHAPEL HILL -- The buffaloes are no longer roaming at the Wicked Burrito building.
The murals of the animals that stretched high across the restaurant's walls are gone. Instead of decorative baskets on the shelves, there are basketballs.

The brightly colored former Tex-Mex restaurant on Franklin Street reopens this week as the home of CarolinaPros, a charitable organization formed and supported by former UNC athletes. The group will share the space with Blue Heaven, a museum dedicated to the Tar Heels that opened in 2000 in the Chapel Hill North shopping center but later closed.

"We're excited to actually have a face on Franklin Street," former UNC star Jerry Stackhouse said at an opening celebration Tuesday night. "For all of us that attended Carolina, this is a memorable place."

CarolinaPros' move into the building is good news for downtown advocates as well. The building, which is owned by Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon Inc., has sat vacant for five years. Andrea Rohrbacher, chairwoman of the Chapel Hill Downtown Economic Development Corp., said that as the bright yellow awning began to tear and the paint faded, the building became a symbol for problems with absentee landlords.

"It evolved from an empty building to an abandoned eyesore," Rohrbacher said.

Town officials and residents pressed Lone Star to allow a nonprofit temporarily to occupy the space. Last month, Lone Star Chairman William Greene announced that the company would allow CarolinaPros to use the building rent-free. He said there were no plans to put another tenant in anytime soon.

CarolinaPros incorporated in 1998, dreamed up by former UNC basketball players Rick Fox and King Rice as a way to get Carolina lettermen back together after college and to give something back to the community. The group focuses on serving children with technology, mentoring and other programs.

Stackhouse hosts the group's annual World's Greatest Alumni Game, scheduled this year for Aug. 27. The game, featuring former Carolina and ACC players and friends, raises money for the American Diabetes Association and Stackhouse's Triple Threat Foundation, which supports diabetes research and awareness.

The organization operated out of an office in Durham until a year ago, when its lease ran out. Its president, Angela Lee, ran it from her home after that.

Lee said that Lone Star has asked the group not to make structural changes to the building, but there may be some changes to rainbow colors outside.

"That periwinkle blue will probably become a lighter shade of blue," Lee said, smiling.

Staff writer Lisa Hoppenjans can be reached at 932-2014 or lisahoppenjans@news.observer.com.

Link: Manuel, Scott Eyeing Pro Hoops Careers

UNC graduates and members of the 2005 NCAA Champion men's basketball team, Jackie Manuel and Melvin Scott, still have their eyes on professional basketball careers, but they are currently spending time with members of next year's team and lending support to Carolina Pros, Inc., now located at 214 W. Franklin Street.

Read more of Manuel, Scott Eyeing Pro Hoops Careers

AROUND TOWN

...Hubert Davis, former UNC guard and excellent long range shooter, in town for his annual basketball camp that begins on the 28th....Kenny Smith, whose Carolina Basketball Camp started today. On hand to speak to the campers and to perform drills and demonstrations this morning was the "Magic Man" himself, Magic Johnson. Among the spectators was Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat. Zo spoke at Kenny's banquet on Saturday, and is in town with the camp....

WGAG PARTICIPANTS continued....

Rusty LaRue will join Wake Forest alumni Josh Howard, Rodney Rogers, and Chris Paul for the ACC Pros All Stars, and former Duke standout Gene "Tinkerbell" Banks will bring his coaching skills to that team....Also, TNT analyst and former UNC point guard Kenny "The Jet" Smith will provide his fun, unique brand of commentary from courtside!

Player Update

Chris Paul, former Wake Forest star point guard, will join the ACC Pros All Stars for the WGAG! Paul will enter his rookie season this year with the New Orleans Hornets, and in the WGAG....

Fan Club Facts

It is interesting to note that most of our fan appreciation club members are from the state of Virginia. However, we have members from Ohio, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Illinois (Hi Jason!), Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Kentucky. Closer to home, we also have members from North Carolina and South Carolina. We are pleased to have you all, and look forward to seeing you in Chapel Hill this August for the WGAG!

fan appreciation club

Join the CarolinaPros Fan Member Appreciation Club for only $25.00 per year. Qualify for discounts on CarolinaPros and other merchandise, memberships to different organizations, and opportunities to interact with former and current athletes!

Download and complete club registration and send to: CarolinaPros, Inc., P.O. Box 9352, Chapel Hill, NC 27515. Fax form with card information to: 919 942-0004.

Be a part of our upcoming and ongoing programs and events in Chapel Hill and other cities.

Help us to team up to help others!!!!!!!

Game Participants and More

Confirmations are coming in from 2005 World's Greatest Alumni Game participants. We will continue to update the list. As of now, the following athletes are expected: most of the "usual suspects" for the CarolinaPros All Stars - Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood, Derrick Phelps, Donald Williams, Joseph Forte, Jeff McInnis, along with Sean May, Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants, Walter Davis, Phil Ford, King Rice, Rick Fox, Dave Hanners, Kenny Smith, Chickee Yonakor, and Pat Sullivan...For the ACC Pros All Stars: Dahntay Jones, Chris Duhon, Rodney Rogers, Jay Williams, Chris Bosh, Darrell Armstrong, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Chucky Brown, Ronald Murray, Robert Doggette, Anthony Grundy, Tony Moore, Phil Spence, and Chris Corchiani. Stay tuned for more!!!

We are planning a live performance by a national recording artist for our National Anthem, and also for the official CarolinaPros after party....

Look for surprise guest appearances during the WGAG weekend....

Visit the website for exciting, memorable opportunities to interact with the players before the game and during halftime....

We Are Moving!!!

CarolinaPros, Inc is very pleased to announce that we are moving to a new location! We will be housed at 214 West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. A press conference was held at the site, formerly the Wicked Burrito Restaurant, announcing the move. Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc., owners of the facility, has selected CarolinaPros as its newest occupants. Mr. William Green, Chairman of the Board of Lone Star, and Executive Vice President Gerald Aaron, travelled from their Wichita, Kansas corporate offices for the press conference. Also on hand were former athletes, CarolinaPros board members, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Economic Development Corporation, local business owners, residents of the community, and members of the media. We are very fortunate to have such a strategic physical presence in downtown Chapel Hill.

Along with our administrative office, the building will house the Blue Heaven Basketball Museum, a "must see" point of interest for Carolina basketball fans. We are planning a grand opening at our new location later this month!