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Local man coached 3 players in this year's Final Four

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A local basketball coach has three reasons to brag about this weekend's Final Four: He coached three players as part of his elite basketball team for high school recruits.

"To get all of these phone calls, ‘Hey, I know you're happy for your guys is really special for all of them,’" coach Jacoby Davis said.

Davis is the coach of Team United, the Charlotte-based team that pulls some of the best basketball talent from the area.

South Carolina's Sindarius Thornwell and North Carolina's Kennedy Meeks played for Team United in 2012 and 2013.

North Carolina's Luke Maye was part of the team a year later.

All three are now on the biggest stage for college basketball.

"They all were tough kids and had that mindset, the will to win. So not surprised with any of those three," Davis said.

All three had to tryout to make the team that traveled all over the country, playing other high school standouts who were trying to get scholarships with top-basketball programs, the coach said.

"You get them in front of all of the major coaches. Roy Williams, all of the Final Four coaches," Davis said.

He's never had this many former players in the Final Four at the same time, but is proud they're representing Team United well.

He offered advice before Saturday's semifinal games.

"Stay focused,” Davis said. “The main thing is stay focused, stay grinding and be tough."

He's hoping North Carolina and South Carolina win. If that happens, he's not taking sides.

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