Head Coach Hubert Davis announced that North Carolina Tar Heel’s big man Armando Bacot has plans to return to Chapel Hill for his junior season. Davis also talked about his plans to adjust the roster and how he plans on coaching next season. Keeping Bacot is a big plus for the Tar Heels who currently do not have a traditional center on the roster without him. They did pick up forwards Justin McKoy from Virginia and Brady Manek from Oklahoma. The two are more likely to be power forwards on the roster though.
Hubert Davis tells me that he wants to play with “versatile big men” at North Carolina, which is why he recruited Brady Manek (Oklahoma) and Justin McKoy (Virginia).
Also added that Armando Bacot “will be back” next year. Bacot is currently going through the NBA Draft process.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 3, 2021
Bacot is a former five-star recruit and has been one of North Carolina’s best big men over the past two years. He will be a much-needed presence in the paint for the Tar Heels in Head Coach Hubert Davis’ first season. The talent and leadership he brings to the court will be invaluable for the first-year Head Coach. Bacot averaged 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game in his sophomore season with the Tar Heels. He paired those numbers with a shooting percentage of 62.8 percent from the field.
Bacot will stay in the 2021 NBA Draft process for now to learn more about how NBA teams perceive him. This is often invaluable information for NBA hopefuls and helps them return to college better than they were before they entered. The rising junior big man will be a part of a very different North Carolina roster next year under Head Coach Hubert Davis.