There is no question that UNC basketball forward [autotag]Armando Bacot[/autotag] is among the best players in the country entering the 2022-23 season — it’s just a matter of where he ranks.
Bacot, the preseason ACC Player of the Year and AP All-American, returns to North Carolina after having a terrific junior year campaign. Despite being snubbed as ACC Player of the Year last year, it was clear he was the most important in the conference.
And now, according to Sports Illustrated college basketball and NBA Draft analyst Jeremy Woo, Bacot is among the top-3 players vying for the National Player of the Year as we enter the season.
“Bacot finally got his due after a huge March run helped spur the Tar Heels to the national title game. And the counting stats should absolutely be there again, although the arrival of Northwestern transfer Pete Nance may slightly diminish Bacot’s impressive output. Regardless, this is a highly productive player returning to very familiar surroundings; expect more of the same. He’s an automatic double double at the college level.”
Bacot is ranked third on the list behind forwards Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky and Drew Timme of Gonzaga. As a junior, Bacot averaged 16.3 points and 13.1 rebounds per game.
The 6-foot-10 Bacot is among four starters returning for the Tar Heels this season and because of that, helped UNC to the No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 heading into the season.
Regardless of where Bacot ends this season in the National Player of the Year rankings, he will surely be one of the most consistent and productive players in the country.
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