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The college basketball transfer portal opens on Tuesday – and North Carolina is expected to be an active player, particularly with losing three guards and a wing.
Derek Dixon, who took over starting point guard duties from Kyan Evans, is in the portal. Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young will also search for new homes, while Jonathan Powell hopes for the same.
Regardless of whether any of the above for Tar Heels return, one thing is apparent: talent reinforcement is needed in Chapel Hill.
UNC has a solid recruiting class coming in, anchored by 5-stars Maximo Adams and Dylan Mingo. 7-foot center Henri Veesaar, who thrived as a full-time starter after transferring from Arizona, may also return for his senior campaign.
Longtime Denver Nuggets boss Michael Malone, whom North Carolina hired as head coach on Monday afternoon, will almost certainly bring his own guys. Malone has a thing for talent development – just look at Denver's 2023 NBA Championship season.
If recruits want to play for a championship-level coach, they'll choose Malone's Tar Heels. He may be a first-time boss at the collegiate level, but so is Bill Belichick with UNC football. The hope for Malone is instant success, but in reality, that'll take time.
North Carolina needs star power, particularly with Caleb Wilson declaring for the NBA Draft. The Tar Heels will no longer have Seth Trimble's senior leadership, plus their depth is extremely thing right now.
What are the top three areas UNC needs to address in the transfer portal? We give you our own take below – and want to hear your thoughts in the comment section on social media.
Wilson is a generational talent. There will never be another Wilson in Chapel Hill. What North Carolina needs, though, is a Day One power forward who can produce at a high level.
There's no telling who the Tar Heels will land yet, but expect power to be an area of focus. If Veesaar returns to Chapel Hill, UNC already has one piece of its backcourt solved.
Dixon is out, but he may return. Denis didn't play much during his lone season at North Carolina, so he's likely out the door. Young also played sparingly – and he'll have the chance at a larger role elsewhere. Powell enjoyed some solid moments, but never materialized into a consistent producer.
If I'm Malone, the Tar Heels need to land – at the minimum – a starting point guard and shooting guard each. Sure, UNC wants bench production, but getting starters locked down should be the second priority.
North Carolina is also stronger when it has a productive wing. The Tar Heels need two small forwards, ideally guys who can play multiple positions.
Zayden High's emergence off the bench was a huge blessing for UNC last season. Behind him, though, North Carolina had very little post depth.
James Brown missed plenty games with injury, as did Ivan Matlekovic. Veesaar looked tired at times, while the Tar Heels never fully adjusted to Wilson's injury.
Ideally, Malone lands a backup big man who can slot in as a Day One starter. UNC needs at least one power forward and center apiece in the portal.
Veesaar was North Carolina's top perimeter shooter last season, recording a team-best 42.6 percent mark from deep. There's a chance Veesaar returns for one more year.
Dixon (39.7%) and Powell (36.5%) are likely gone, while Luka Bogavac (34.9%) likely stays and Kyan Evans (30.5%) undecided.
The best teams have guys who can take over from 3-point land. Michael Malone should have no problem finding sharpshooters in the transfer portal, particularly with his ability to land high-end talent.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball: Top needs in transfer portal
Continue reading...
Derek Dixon, who took over starting point guard duties from Kyan Evans, is in the portal. Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young will also search for new homes, while Jonathan Powell hopes for the same.
Regardless of whether any of the above for Tar Heels return, one thing is apparent: talent reinforcement is needed in Chapel Hill.
UNC has a solid recruiting class coming in, anchored by 5-stars Maximo Adams and Dylan Mingo. 7-foot center Henri Veesaar, who thrived as a full-time starter after transferring from Arizona, may also return for his senior campaign.
Longtime Denver Nuggets boss Michael Malone, whom North Carolina hired as head coach on Monday afternoon, will almost certainly bring his own guys. Malone has a thing for talent development – just look at Denver's 2023 NBA Championship season.
If recruits want to play for a championship-level coach, they'll choose Malone's Tar Heels. He may be a first-time boss at the collegiate level, but so is Bill Belichick with UNC football. The hope for Malone is instant success, but in reality, that'll take time.
North Carolina needs star power, particularly with Caleb Wilson declaring for the NBA Draft. The Tar Heels will no longer have Seth Trimble's senior leadership, plus their depth is extremely thing right now.
What are the top three areas UNC needs to address in the transfer portal? We give you our own take below – and want to hear your thoughts in the comment section on social media.
A dominant power forward
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Wilson is a generational talent. There will never be another Wilson in Chapel Hill. What North Carolina needs, though, is a Day One power forward who can produce at a high level.
There's no telling who the Tar Heels will land yet, but expect power to be an area of focus. If Veesaar returns to Chapel Hill, UNC already has one piece of its backcourt solved.
Starting guards and backcourt depth
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Dixon is out, but he may return. Denis didn't play much during his lone season at North Carolina, so he's likely out the door. Young also played sparingly – and he'll have the chance at a larger role elsewhere. Powell enjoyed some solid moments, but never materialized into a consistent producer.
If I'm Malone, the Tar Heels need to land – at the minimum – a starting point guard and shooting guard each. Sure, UNC wants bench production, but getting starters locked down should be the second priority.
North Carolina is also stronger when it has a productive wing. The Tar Heels need two small forwards, ideally guys who can play multiple positions.
Post depth
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Zayden High's emergence off the bench was a huge blessing for UNC last season. Behind him, though, North Carolina had very little post depth.
James Brown missed plenty games with injury, as did Ivan Matlekovic. Veesaar looked tired at times, while the Tar Heels never fully adjusted to Wilson's injury.
Ideally, Malone lands a backup big man who can slot in as a Day One starter. UNC needs at least one power forward and center apiece in the portal.
Perimeter shooting
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Veesaar was North Carolina's top perimeter shooter last season, recording a team-best 42.6 percent mark from deep. There's a chance Veesaar returns for one more year.
Dixon (39.7%) and Powell (36.5%) are likely gone, while Luka Bogavac (34.9%) likely stays and Kyan Evans (30.5%) undecided.
The best teams have guys who can take over from 3-point land. Michael Malone should have no problem finding sharpshooters in the transfer portal, particularly with his ability to land high-end talent.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball: Top needs in transfer portal
Continue reading...
