Welcome to my team preview series for 2024-25. Each day between now and the start of the college basketball season, I will preview one team or conference, both on Instagram (@collegehoopsoutlet) and through an article here. The preview will go in-depth on the roster build of the team, my expectations for their upcoming season, and the state of the program under their current head coach.
North Carolina (Projected: 2nd in ACC)
Hubert Davis had his best season yet at North Carolina in 2023-24, as the Tar Heels finished 29-8 but came up short in the Sweet 16 to Alabama. Hubert Davis returns his starting backcourt but will have his hands full trying to get the rest of his lineup up to par. The expectation at North Carolina will always be to contend at the top of the ACC, something I think this team is more than capable of doing.
One of the most important returners in the country, RJ Davis (21 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg) is back in Chapel Hill, a likely preseason first team All-American and right next to Duke phenom Cooper Flagg in the ACC Player of the Year race. Davis stepped up his efficiency from beyond the three-point line last season and his ability to score from anywhere on the court makes him one of the most exciting players to watch in college basketball. His return to Carolina gives Hubert Davis an experienced guard to lean in and elevates the team’s ceiling tremendously.
Four others return from last year’s rotation for the Tar Heels, most notably sophomore Elliot Cadeau (7 ppg, 4 apg). Cadeau stepped into a starting role as a freshman for the Tar Heels, and his sophomore jump will be something to monitor as he owns the provider role for RJ Davis. Seth Trimble (5 ppg) saw a small increase in his role last year, but the addition of Cormac Ryan on the wing stunted his growth. Now with a better chance to see big minutes in the rotation, Trimble is another guy who could make a leap this season. Jae’Lyn Withers (4 ppg, 4 rpg) and Jalen Washington (4 ppg) are the two returners in the frontcourt for Carolina, and both need to step up following the departure of Armando Bacot. Washington is the guy that is expected to take the leap for the Tar Heels, though I have my doubts for a guy who averaged just 8 minutes per game last season.
Six players left North Carolina, including three extremely important veteran players. Armando Bacot (15 ppg, 10 rpg) became the staple of North Carolina teams in recent years, but finally bid farewell. Harrison Ingram (12 ppg, 9 rpg) and Cormac Ryan (12 ppg) only played at North Carolina for one season, but their importance to last year’s team cannot be understated, completely leveling up the Tar Heels from the 2022-23 team that missed the tournament. Bench pieces Paxson Wojcik (2 ppg), James Okonwo (1 ppg), and Zayden High (1 ppg) round out the list of departures.
Three transfers join the Tar Heels ahead of the 2024-25 season, with the most important of the trio likely being Vanderbilt transfer Ven Allen-Lubin (12 ppg, 6 rpg at Vanderbilt). Allen-Lubin doesn’t provide the floor spacing that Harrison Ingram did for the Tar Heels last season, but his terrific rebounding ability at the four spot could replicate some of what Ingram did. There won’t be Armando Bacot in the paint either, so Allen-Lubin could become the vocal point of the post offense.
Belmont transfer Cade Tyson (16 ppg, 6 rpg at Belmont) comes to Chapel Hill after dominating the Missouri Valley as an efficient three-level scorer for two years. This past season Tyson shot 49.3% from the field and 46.5% from three, so even if he takes a step back production wise jumping to the ACC, the open shot making ability should be there to replace Cormac Ryan. Tyzhaun Claude (5 ppg, 5 rpg at Georgia Tech) has bounced all over the place during his college career, and his final stop looks to be Chapel Hill. Claude is another experienced forward with a knack for rebounding and should find himself in the middle of the frontcourt rotation for the Tar Heels.
Ian Jackson (5*, NAT 8), Drake Powell (5*, NAT 13), and James Brown (4*, NAT 87) are the trio of freshmen brought in by Hubert Davis for the upcoming season. Jackson is 6-5, but with his elite athleticism and offensive ability, he should start at three for the Tar Heels as a true freshman. Jackson could be one of the most important players for the Tar Heels, just a freshman, but a player who will have very high expectations. Powell should have an impact in the rotation at the two and three spots, a standout defender and a smart all-around player. Brown will likely be a guy for the future in the Carolina frontcourt, though with the uncertainty, he could find a decent role as a freshman.
Hubert Davis got his head coaching tenure back on track last season, exceling in the portal and claiming the ACC regular season title. Now in year four, he should have another talented team highlighted by RJ Davis. It may be an uphill climb to get back to the second weekend for the Tar Heels though, with lots of questions to be answered in the frontcourt.
We know what RJ Davis can provide at the college level, but just about everyone else on this Carolina roster is a bit of a question mark. Will Elliot Cadeau be more efficient as a sophomore? Will Cade Tyson take the role of Cormac Ryan? Can the freshmen be highly impactful in the rotation? Who steps up in the frontcourt? All of these questions are extremely warranted, but the return of RJ Davis really holds this team together in my eyes. The X-factor for me is Jalen Washington, a guy who is highly thought of in Chapel Hill, and someone who must take a giant leap in the frontcourt as a junior.
Duke and North Carolina are a step above the rest in the ACC in my eyes, but has the offseason has worn on, I’ve become a bit fonder of Duke and a bit more questionable of UNC. I think the Tar Heels are a safe pick to finish second in the ACC, though there are questions that must be answered before I think they are a viable team to contend in the NCAA Tournament.