GREAT PLAY, COACH

For decades, North Carolinians haven't had to be ashamed of the
basketball program at their flagship university. Overwhelmingly,
players have stayed out of trouble and graduated. New coach Roy
Williams seems determined to keep it that way.

After a frustratingly inconsistent season, Mr. Williams and the team's
fans were looking forward to the arrival next year of the best-scoring
basketball player in state history.

On Wednesday, Mr. Williams told him not to come.

JameSon Curry, a kid with a brilliant athletic career ahead of him,
had pleaded guilty to two felony counts of selling marijuana.

Under university policy, players are automatically kicked off the team
if they're convicted of a felony. Rejecting young Mr. Curry makes it
clear that this laudable policy also extends to recruits - as it
should. Another school will grab him up, if the NBA doesn't. Too many
coaches - as well as college administrators and alumni - are willing
to forgive little things like felonies if a kid can hit 14 of 15 shots
from the floor, as Mr. Curry did the night before he got busted.

So he'll be fine, assuming he doesn't get caught committing other
crimes and going to prison.

UNC basketball will be fine, too. In fact, it'll be better than