The Los Angeles Lakers are thrilled that Kobe Bryant is returning and is looking like he will be at full strength after suffering an Achilles injury and the superstar spoke with the LA Times about his past, including when he was thinking about going to college.

Obviously Kobe came right out of high school and while that was a smart choice, he was leaning toward two very smart options in college: North Carolina and Duke. While Bryant has a nice relationship with Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski, according to the LA Times, who spoke with Bryant at his "Kobe Up Close Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel" charity event, Bryant eas leaning towards the Tar Heels.

Bryant has said that he is using the predictions of many that the Lakers will be bad to fuel his recovery and his intensity as he heads into this season. The team lost Dwight Howard in free agency and now Kobe has to prove that he can come back at full strength from the injury.

"Defying the urban legend that he was Duke-bound, had he gone to college instead of the NBA straight out of high school, Bryant said he was leaning toward North Carolina. "I love [Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski]," Bryant said. "The truth has to come out."

Why North Carolina? Vince Carter, a Tar Heel, was one of the top guards in the country at the time. "I want to play against him, every single day," Bryant said."