Hakeem Nicks, a former UNC receiver, was ineligible during the 2008 season. PHOTO: Robert Willett

CHAPEL HILL — As it turns out, former North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was ineligible during his final season with the Tar Heels, UNC acknowledged on Thursday. If you haven’t already, you can read our story about Nicks’ ineligibility right here.

The Reader’s Digest version, if you don’t feel like clicking the link:

The University of North Carolina has sent a disassociation letter severing ties with Jennifer Wiley, the former tutor associated with the school and NCAA's investigation into possible academic misconduct within the Tar Heels football program.

In the letter, dated Nov. 5 and signed by athletic director Dick Baddour, states that Wiley provided impermissible academic assistance to some of the school’s student-athletes in 2009 and 2010.

The letter also states that Wiley provided impermissible financial assistance in excess of $2,000 in connection with travel and transportation issues. The university released the letters to the media this afternoon as the result of public records requests.

Two lists on the 26 exits from the UNC program since the end of the 2006 season.

First, a Triangle comparison:

Sometimes the NFL Draft does make sense.

The New York Giants, needing a receiver since cutting Plaxico Buress, took UNC receiver Hakeem Nicks with the 29th pick in the first round.

Nicks, UNC's career leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, becomes the fifth ACC player taken in the first round. It's the second straight year UNC has produced a first-round pick (Kentwan Balmer).

It would only make sense for the New York Giants to take Hakeem Nicks with 29th pick in the NFL Draft on Saturday.

The Giants, a season removed from a historic Super Bowl upset, need a receiver after parting ways with Plaxico Buress, a troubled but big-play receiver.

Nicks, UNC's record-setting receiver, fits the bill and figures to be available when the Giants are on the clock. Not that Nicks has packed his bags for New York.

According to Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune, North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks scored 11 out of a possible 50 on the Wonderlic test given to NFL prospects.

Players must answer 50 questions in 12 minutes for the test, which measures problem-solving ability. NFL teams look for receivers to score about 18.

Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech, perhaps the top wideout in the draft, scored a 15. Florida's Percy Harvin scored a 14. Pompei's piece looked a few scores at other positions as well.

Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, holder of 14 North Carolina records, won't be returning to set any more. The junior has decided to forego his senior season and declare early for the NFL, the school announced. He's the first star Tar Heel football player to do so since Julius Peppers went early after the 2001 season.

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks said recently he hasn’t decided yet whether he will jump to the NFL next year because he wants to concentrate on this season.

Meanwhile, coach Butch Davis doesn’t plan to talk to him about it until after UNC plays its final game of the year.

“Hakeem and I have had discussions prior to the start of the season, and after we had those discussions, it’s ‘play as great at you can, don’t worry about that.’ When the season is overwith, he and I will sit down with his family, we’ll take a look [at it] realistically,'' Davis said.

CHAPEL HILL — Quarterback T.J. Yates’ lone completion in the fourth quarter against Georgia Tech on Saturday was notable for two reasons: he had been sidelined since Sept. 20 with a fractured left ankle, and the 28-yard  toss to Hakeem Nicks made Nicks UNC’s career leader in receiving yardage, passing Corey Holliday.

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina teammates Hakeem Nicks and Ryan Houston insist they haven't been talking too much trash about tonight's showdown rivalry between their high school alma maters.

They say it all with their eyes.

"We just do a little inside thing, we give each other a little look like, ‘You know what Friday is, man,' " said Houston, a sophomore running back who played at second-ranked Matthews Butler, which plays No. 1 Charlotte Independence tonight.