Tag: Armando Bacot

Armando Bacot dominates with double-double in NBA G-League debut

Just how much of an impact did Tar Heel legend Armando Bacot have in his NBA G-League debut?

Armando Bacot etched his way into the UNC basketball history books during his five seasons in Chapel Hill, but that didn’t guarantee him a 2024 NBA Draft selection.

Bacot initially signed with the Utah Jazz‘ Summer League team, then later found his way onto the Memphis Grizzles, thanks to an Exhibit-10 contract. Bacot impressed in preseason ball with Memphis, but was later part of final roster cuts.

Now with the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzles’ G-League affiliate, Bacot is already making a quick impression.

On Saturday, Nov. 9 in his G-League debut, Bacot registered a 17-point, 18-rebound double-double as the Hustle’s starting center. Memphis lost, 103-97, but Bacot showed why he can be a key eventual contributor in the NBA.

Bacot shot just 6-of-18 from the field, but what’s most impressive about his performance are the types of shots he made. Bacot drained three 3-pointers in nine attempts. If you recall Bacot’s time at North Carolina, he rarely shot the basketball outside the paint, not making a 3-pointer until the 2023-2024 campaign.

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Bacot led the Hustle in two categories: minutes played (37) and rebounds (18). One of Bacot’s teammates, former Oregon Duck Miles Morris, also recorded a double-double (24 points, 10 rebounds).

In his five seasons as a Tar Heel, Bacot set the program record for rebounds (1,715) and double-doubles (87). You’d think this would be enough to get Bacot an NBA Draft Selection, but today’s professional big man is someone who can both play down low and shoot outside jumpers.

If Bacot keeps dominating at the G-League level like he did Saturday, it won’t be long before an NBA team is calling his name again.

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How did UNC’s post players perform in closer-than-expected victory over Elon?

UNC might be better off in the frontcourt than you expect this coming basketball season.

Without Armando Bacot in a North Carolina Tar Heels uniform any longer, UNC is in big need of players to step up in the post this season.

Luckily for North Carolina, it has plenty of post guys to rotate with – and all are experienced upperclassmen.

Jalen Washington, who started at center in UNC’s 90-76 victory over Elon, is a junior. Jae’Lyn Withers, who started at power forward, is in his fifth season. Ven-Allen Lubin, the Vanderbilt transfer who came off the bench and can play both the four or five, is a junior. Cade Tyson, the sharp-shooting Belmont transfer seen as a Stretch Four, is a junior.

I’m really encouraged by what I saw from the Tar Heels’ post rotation Monday night, particularly from Withers and Washington. Withers grabbed a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Washington poured in eight points, grabbed four rebounds, blocked a shot, stole a ball and recorded an assist.

Lubin scored four points, registered seven rebounds and blocked two shots in 17 minutes off the bench, while Tyson scored two points – and grabbed two rebounds – in 16 minutes off the bench.

Look at the second sentence of what respected college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein said: Hubert Davis would sign for 3/4 of North Carolina’s post production on Monday night, particularly in a post-Bacot world.

I agree with Rothstein. There are bound to be some growing pains for UNC in the paint during college basketball season, but at least it has experienced upperclassmen in Lubin, Withers and Washington to count on for production.

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Four former UNC basketball standouts cut from NBA rosters over the weekend

Which Tar Heels failed to avoid their former NBA teams’ latest round of roster cuts?

The North Carolina Tar Heels are one of the nation’s greatest college basketball programs, having won six NCAA championships, plus nearly 70 combined ACC regular-season and tournament titles.

As a result of UNC’s success, the country’s top players want to play in Chapel Hill. North Carolina has put some of that recent talent into the NBA, such as Harrison Ingram earning the San Antonio Spurs’ final roster spot this season.

Some other recent former Tar Heels were not as fortunate as Ingram, though.

On Oct. 19, former UNC standouts Armando Bacot, Cormac Ryan, Nassir Little and Pete Nance were waived by their respective NBA teams.

In a sports world that has an extremely difficult nature of business, NBA teams needed to trim their rosters – by 4 p.m. Saturday – to avoid salary cap hits.

Bacot, who is North Carolina’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,715) and double-doubles (87), was waived from his Exhibit 10 contract with the Memphis Grizzles. Bacot played with the Utah Jazz in summer league action.

Ryan, who transferred from Notre Dame to Chapel Hill for his final season of college basketball last year, was waived from his Exhibit 10 contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ryan averaged 11.5 points per game and shot a hair better than 35% from 3-point land.

Little, the Portland Trail Blazers’ first-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, was waived by the Miami Heat. Little started 36 of 237 regular-season games in his first five professional seasons, averaging 5.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

Nance, who never lived up to his hype as Brady Manek’s “replacement” during the Tar Heels’ 2022-2023 campaign, was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nance played eight NBA games in his rookie season, averaging 0.4 points and rebounds per clash.

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RJ Davis has a very real chance to break UNC’s all-time scoring record this season

RJ Davis is pretty close to the all-time UNC scoring record. Will he break it by season’s end?

When it comes to the most efficient scorers in North Carolina Tar Heels basketball history, RJ Davis is right up there with some of the other all-time greats.

Davis is coming off his best season at UNC, averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game and being named 2024 ACC Player of the Year. Davis scored in double-digits every game but two, which included reaching another career-high, single-game point total of 42 on Feb. 26 in a 75-71 win victory over Miami (FL).

Ahead of his fifth and final season at North Carolina, Davis has a great chance to break the all-time scoring record. Davis currently has 2,088 career points, behind Sam Perkins (2,145), Phil Ford (2,290), former teammate Armando Bacot (2,347) and Tyler Hansbrough (2,872).

Given RJ’s scoring prowess, plus the fact he’s the most experienced player in Chapel Hill this year and knows the system well, I think breaking Hansbrough’s all-time record is very doable. Sure, RJ will have to ball out and play even better than last season, but that’s also not a tall ask.

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If RJ doesn’t end his season as the Tar Heels’ all-time scoring leader, though, don’t be surprised.

UNC has even more scoring help this year in freshman Ian Jackson, transfers Cade Tyson and Ven-Allen Lubin, plus Seth Trimble if he plays like he did against Memphis. Those are only a few names, as you can’t count out the likes of Drake Powell, Jalen Washington and Ven-Allen Lubin.

While I’m sure RJ would appreciate leaving Chapel Hill with a minimum 2,873 career points, I’m sure he’d rather leave with a National Championship in his back pocket.

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Armando Bacot spends day with North Carolina Tar Heels in Memphis

There’s no recent player who loves the Tar Heels more than Armando Bacot. Check out what he did Tuesday night.

When former Tar Heel Armando Bacot finished up his time in the NBA Summer League, the Utah Jazz decided not to sign him.

Thankfully, the Memphis Grizzlies took a chance on UNC’s all-time rebounds and double-doubles leader, signing him to an Exhibit 10 contract.

On Tuesday, Oct. 15 with North Carolina in Memphis for a preseason exhibition game, you know Bacot had to catch up with his former teammates.

Bacot spent time at the Tar Heels’ morning shootaround, then sat courtside and tried his hand at announcing during the national broadcast on ESPNU.

UNC played exceptional basketball in its 84-76 victory over the Memphis Tigers, holding a double-digit lead for most of it. North Carolina junior guard Seth Trimble stole the show, scoring a game-high 33 points in the absence or RJ Davis, while Jalen Washington turned a few heads with his 17-point outing. You can’t forget about projected starting guard Elliot Cadeau, who scored 11 points and dished out 13 assists.

 

The Tar Heels won’t have Bacot’s post production this coming season, so they’ve been trying to find someone to at least show they’re ready to step into Bacot’s shoes. Washington showed he’s capable, plus Washington has something in his bag Bacot didn’t – the ability to shoot 3-pointers.

UNC also has freshman center James Brown, Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin and Georgia Tech transfer Tyzhaun Claude to fill Bacot’s shoes. Lubin likely will be the starter, as he showcased a couple electric plays in the exhibition win, but Washington can also push for starting minutes.

I can’t think of a recent player who loves North Carolina more than Bacot. It was great to seem him supporting the Tar Heels last night – and I hope it’s not the last we see of him in 2024.

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AJ Dybantsa visit includes picture alongside an all-time UNC basketball great

Armando Bacot did his part on Saturday to help land an AJ Dybantsa commitment.

This weekend is a super-important one for the North Carolina Tar Heels’ men’s basketball program, as they host the Class of 2025’s top-ranked recruit in AJ Dybantsa.

UNC already has 14 offers extended to Class of 2025 recruits, including eight 5-stars. We’ve seen a couple other high-profile recruits commit already, most notably former North Carolina target Jasper Johnson going to Kentucky, but the Tar Heels have yet to land anyone.

As you can imagine, UNC isn’t the only school after Dybantsa. Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, BYU, Kansas and Kansas State are all also vying for Dybantsa’s attention.

If North Carolina wants to truly capture Dybantsa’s attention, it’ll have to pull out the biggest stops.

One of those stops includes a picture earlier Saturday with Armando Bacot, who is the Tar Heels’ all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles. Bacot screams everything it means to be a Tar Heel, playing in Chapel from 2020-2024 and nearly helping UNC capture a seventh NCAA Championship in 2022.

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Bacot signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this month, meaning he can either play in the NBA or in the G-League.

Dybantsa currently plays his high school ball at Utah Prep. Will Saturday’s visit be enough to convince him to play his college ball in Chapel Hill?

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Former Tar Heel Armando Bacot finds new home in NBA

This former UNC superstar signed an NBA contract with this franchise.

One of the most prolific big men to dawn the Carolina blue in the last decade is headed to the NBA. After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, center Armando Bacot has signed a 10-day exhibition contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.

This contract will guarantee a one-year deal at the NBA minimum and has the opportunity to transition to a two-way contract before the start of the regular season which is on October 22, 2024.

Bacot was one of the best big men UNC basketball has ever seen. He spent five years with the Tar Heels averaging 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in his last season. He finished averaging a double-double for his collegiate career at 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

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Bacot spent time in the Summe League over the last couple of months with the Utah Jazz. He had several games during the summer with 8+ points and 6+ rebounds in a limited minute span. After his 10-day contract with the Jazz expired, he was let go.

This time around, hopefully, Bacot has found his NBA home.

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Armando Bacot attends Michigan State football game

Armando Bacot supported his friend and former UNC defensive back Lejond Cavazosat Michigan State.

Former North Carolina Tar Heels’ standout Armando Bacot is enjoying life after his college basketball career. Bacot is getting involved in some more NIL opportunities and has even been around the program to run some scrimmages.

But on Friday, Bacot was taking in the opening weekend of college football in the Midwest. No, Bacot was not in Minnesota for the UNC game but instead, he was in Michigan to support his friend and former UNC defensive back Lejond Cavazos. Bacot was spotted on Michigan State’s campus and then on the sideline before the game in a Cavazos jersey. Check out the picture of Bacot below:

Bacot and Cavazos have been friends since their time together at IMG Academy. Bacot was even helpful in recruiting Cavazos to North Carolina after he transferred out of Ohio State.

While it was an ugly game, Bacot got to see Michigan State and Cavazos get a win at home to open the season.  Spartans fans probably aren’t too excited about seeing Bacot there, seeing that he and the Tar Heels ended Michigan State’s season in the NCAA Tournament last season.

Where will we see Bacot next? Stay tuned.

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Armando Bacot in attendance for Michigan State football season opener

An MSU basketball foe is in attendance supporting the Spartans against FAU:

A foe that Spartan basketball fans know so well, former North Carolina center Armando Bacot has made his way to East Lansing. Bacot is in attendance for Michigan State’s season opener against Florida Atlantic, standing on the sidelines and wearing an MSU jersey.

Bacot is at the game supporting Lejond Cavazos, a defensive back transfer from North Carolina.

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Former UNC star showing the value of NIL money for athletes

This former basketball star at UNC is putting on display just how valuable NIL money can be to the future of college athletes.

It is no secret to UNC basketball fans who Armando Bacot is. The center dominated college hoops for almost the entirety of his career in Chapel Hill. Now, he is moving that domination off the court in the next chapter of his life.

Just a few years ago, Name, Image, and Likeness” (NIL, for short) was introduced as a way to pay college players for the money they brought to prestigious universities.

It has since become a method that coaches and colleges use to recruit top talent to their programs. Bacot played college basketball during this transition and because of his rise to stardom early on, he was able to enjoy the fruits of the progress.

In an interview with 247sports, Bacot credits North Carolina with the opportunity to make “life-changing” money.

I had no clue [the effect NIL would have]. I didn’t know what I was doing. You go from [making no money] to being a millionaire fast. It was crazy. We didn’t realize it. I made $2 million-plus. I’m saying that humbly, though. That speaks of the brand at North Carolina. If I didn’t go to North Carolina, I wouldn’t have been doing those deals at Turbo Tax and others.

Bacot has since announced a partnership with a hotel company and breaking ground on his first hotel, he stated on his Twitter account.

The former star is not only using his basketball talent; he’s also using that business education and putting it to work early for a brighter future.

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