The UNC men’s basketball team will have plenty of talent sprinkled throughout its roster for the coming season.
North Carolina’s starting lineup will be headlined by the return of reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, while Seth Trimble and Jae’Lyn Withers give the Tar Heels’ bench some starting-caliber options.
UNC’s bench lost a key contributor on Tuesday afternoon – and arguably, the team’s biggest hype man – who had a much clearer path to playing time in 2024-2025.
Zayden High, who played 23 games in his freshman season last year for North Carolina, is no longer enrolled at the school.
High appeared in a limited role during the 2023-2024 campaign, averaging 0.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 4.5 minutes per game.
You’re probably wondering: how does the loss of a player, who didn’t even average five minutes per game, impact the Tar Heels?
UNC will have starting experience in the post, headlined by Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin, but not a ton outside of him. Belmont transfer Cade Tyson can play in the post at 6’7″, but I see him being utilized more at small forward.
Zayden High is leaving UNC
Hate to see this #UNC pic.twitter.com/pzAQeyxEJn— TarHeelBred (@TarHeelBred919x) August 27, 2024
Center Jalen Washington is a key reserve, but with Armando Bacot’s departure, Washington is poised to take a starting role. Jae’Lyn Withers was likely North Carolina’s starting power forward, but Tyson and Lubin’s arrival put him back on the bench.
Don’t forget about James Brown, an incoming 4-star center who could also see minutes at power forward, or recent Georgia Tech transfer Tyzhaun Claude.
To sum it up, High’s loss isn’t a major one for the Tar Heels. There’s no doubt, though, UNC will miss High’s energy both on and off the court.
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