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Tar Heels' walk-on impresses president

By now, the story of Barack Obama's campaign stop in Chapel Hill for a pickup game with the Tar Heels is well known. So, too, is the story of Obama's NCAA tournament bracket, in which the leader of the free world correctly picked North Carolina to win the national championship.

Monday afternoon, those same Tar Heels met with Obama again -- this time at the White House for a congratulatory ceremony with the president.

A certain senior on that team made a lasting impression on Obama. Jack Wooten, a walk-on from Burlington, wasn't a star for the Heels. But neither was he intimidated.

"When we played, everybody went out of their way to pass me the ball, set screens for me, let me take a shot," Obama said. "Tyler (Hansbrough) chose not to block my shot, but I was so intimidated by him being near me that I missed it.

"There was one exception, though: Jack Wooten," Obama added. "He stole the ball from me, he blocked my shot, he fouled me once -- coach (Roy) Williams had to remind him that there were a bunch of guys with guns around. But just to show that there are no hard feelings, Jack, I want to congratulate you. He made Phi Beta Kappa this year, that's worth applauding. To achieve academic excellence as part of a national championship is extraordinary. And I know that Jack is interested in public service and we need more young people like him to serve our country. So, Jack, any time you're ready, jump on board."

Wooten, who was a star guard in high school at Williams in Burlington, had one of the more memorable one-liners of the season when he spoke at North Carolina's basketball awards banquet in April. His role, like the vast majority of walk-ons at all 343 Division I programs across the country, was to play hard on the scout team, imitating as best he could an opposing team's player.

"During my time here, I learned to guard five positions," the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Wooten said. "Point guard. Shooting guard. Small forward. Power forward. And president."

Photos and complete text of Obama's presentation: http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/864163.html

-- JEFF MILLS, Staff Writer