Tag: Jalen Washington

UNC basketball maintains Top 10 ranking in Andy Katz’ NEW Power 37 rankings

Andy Katz gave the Tar Heels a good spot in his latest Power 37 rankings.

We’re only three weeks into the 2024-2025 college basketball season, but we’re slowly starting to see several teams shape their identity.

I’ve already watched Kansas prove itself as a continued powerhouse, while Arizona might not be as good as we thought. Duke is one of the most talented teams on paper, but its achilles heel every year – experience – cost it a chance at beating Kentucky.

I can’t formulate too much of an opinion about our North Carolina Tar Heels, but I can tell you they’re exciting to watch. UNC is 2-1 through three games, looking its strongest against American and showing some initial concern against Elon.

Ahead of the stacked Maui Invitational, which begins on Monday, Nov. 25, North Carolina landed 10th in Andy Katz’ latest Power 37 rankings. These groupings are new to the 2024-2025 season, with Katz utilizing the Power 36 a season ago.

The Tar Heels found themselves trailing Iowa State (ninth), Alabama (eighth), Purdue (seventh), Duke (sixth), Kentucky (fifth), Auburn (fourth), UConn (third), Gonzaga (second) and Kansas (first).

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When Armando Bacot, Cormac Ryan and Harrison Ingram left UNC in the offseason, I’ll admit I had some initial concerns about the team’s depth – and veteran leadership.

Through three games, North Carolina has quickly showcased additional depth and new leaders – both from the transfer portal and amongst returners.

Elliot Cadeau has stepped up alongside reining ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, giving the Tar Heels one of the country’s most dangerous backcourt duos. Drake Powell might be the best defensive player on the roster, while Seth Trimble added an offensive arsenal to his bag.

Jae’Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington are thriving in their first year as starters. Belmont tranfser Cade Tyson is starting to look more comfortable, while Ven-Allen Lubin is that productive, long-overdue big man off the bench.

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Jalen Washington sets career-high, anchors post attack in UNC’s Friday night victory

Just exactly how good was Jalen Washington for the UNC men’s basketball team during Friday night’s dominating victory?

For what seemed like forever against American on Friday night, the North Carolina Tar Heels couldn’t drain a 3-pointer if they tried.

UNC missed its first nine attempts, not draining one until an electric, second-half make from Belmont transfer Cade Tyson. He finished 3-of-7 from deep as the only Tar Heel with multiple made threes.

RJ Davis, who’s usually automatic from deep, went 1-of-7 from the perimeter. Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble, who’ve both improved their 3-point shooting, were a combined 2-of-5 from deep. North Carolina was just 7-of-22 as a team.

Luckily for UNC, though, its inside game was giving the Eagles fits. No post player was more important for the Tar Heels than junior center Jalen Washington, who scored a career-high 18 points on a perfect, 6-of-6 mark from the field and career-best 6-of-7 output from the free throw line.

North Carolina finished its night 36-of-61 overall (59 percent) from the field. On a night where the perimeter shots weren’t falling, the Tar Heels were seemingly automatic from inside-the-arc.

“We felt like that was the best way for us to score,” Washington said of UNC taking the basketball inside. “Just taking advantage of that and being relentless down there, just dominating points in the paint. I feel like that was just opening up shots for guards, our wings just to be able to shoot and knock down threes, which they’re capable of doing and they’ve been doing.”

Not only was Washington scoring efficiently, but he was also showcasing a fire his teammates and coaches didn’t see last season, celebrating after and-ones, contested layups and thunderous dunks.

“Jay Wash is a really sweet, quiet giant, and I love that about him, but on the court I want the one that hits himself in the head (celebrating),” North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis said. “I want that all the time — not just for him, but for his teammates, which he does if he gets a rebound, or he dives on the floor. He’s a lot more confident. His personality is coming out.”

For a season in which we weren’t even sure that J-Wash was going to start for the Tar Heels, he’s sure taking advantage of his golden opportunity.

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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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Coaches and teammates gives high praise to UNC freshman

Jalen Washington and Hubert Davis had some high praise on impact of this freshman.

With basketball season just around the corner, reporters got an opportunity today to sit down with Tar Heel basketball players and discuss each other, the team, and the upcoming season from their perspective.

Specifically one of the interviews that stood out was Jalen Washington. With Armando Bacot out the door, there is a gaping hole in the middle of the paint that will need to be filled, and Washington is the perfect person for the job.

However, during his interview and among the questions about him stepping up and playing a bigger role, he was asked about his impression of freshman Drake Powell. Washington was quick to give Powell high praise saying “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone with as much raw talent as him.”

Washington went on to tell of a story of Powell playing defensive back on a defensive fast break shutting down the opposite team’s capabilities.

It wasn’t only Washington that was impressed with Powell’s presence. Head coach Hubert Davis had this to say about the freshman.

For a guy to be as talented as he is, he is equally and probably even more humble. Just enjoys and loves being a part of a team. His athleticism and length from a defensive standpoint, is just off the chart. And talking about making impact plays on a number of different areas, he’s somebody who checks boxes all over the place. And so when you bring that type of level of player here, but brings in a team first, humble attitude, that’s something that you always want. And I’m so glad that Drake is here.

The team is shaping up to be one that can make a serious run at winning an ACC and NCAA title this season. Complete with veteran leadership, talented shooters, and young playmakers, North Carolina is poised for a big year.

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Premier League Trophy makes its way across the pond to UNC basketball team

European soccer is the gold standard for professional soccer. The Premier League trophy, won by England’s best-performing club, made its way to the UNC basketball team Thursday.

Last summer was a pretty historic one at Kenan Stadium, as UNC’s home football venue hosted a Premier League soccer match for the first time ever.

For those who are wondering, the Premier League is the United Kingdom’s top tier of professional soccer (or, as they call it in Europe, football).

Chelsea, the 6-time Premier League Champions, faced off against the Ryan Reynolds-owned Wrexham club. It was a one-sided affair, with Chelsea winning 5-0, but an historical event in which the Tar Heels should be proud of hosting.

Premier League soccer returns to Kenan Stadium this summer, as 10-time league champion Manchester City will face off against Scottish club Celtic FC on Tuesday, July 23. Manchester City is the most successful European team of late, winning the past four Premier League titles.

To help generate hype for the event, the Premier League trophy made its way to Chapel Hill.

The trophy’s first stop on campus was at the Dean Dome, with several Tar Heel basketball players and coaches taking pictures with it on Thursday, June 13.

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If you scroll through the Instagram slide show, you’ll notice North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis, star transfer addition Cade Tyson, projected starting center Jalen Washington and several assistant coaches, including 2005 National Champion Sean May.

Just a few months after Manchester City and Celtic FC clash, the UNC basketball team will open its 2024-2025 season on Monday, Nov. 4 against Elon.

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Basketball transfer portal target Coleman Hawkins chooses Kansas State over UNC

Maybe missing out on Coleman Hawkins wasn’t the worst thing in UNC’s transfer portal pursuits.

The UNC men’s basketball team struck out, once again, chasing a top target in the transfer portal.

North Carolina’s latest miss was Coleman Hawkins, the big man who – last season – led Illinois to its first Elite 8 appearance since 2005. Hawkins averaged 6.1 rebounds and a career-high 12.1 points per game, so when he initially entered his name in the transfer portal, it came as no surprise he has plenty of suitors.

The Tar Heels are in need of an experienced starting center. They already have Jalen Washington and Zayden High on the roster, plus incoming freshman James Brown, but Washington is the only one with extensive experience – and he was a reserve last year.

I like the idea of Washington starting, but it’s discouraging to see UNC strike out on these top talents.

On Friday, June 14, Hawkins announced that he’d be transferring to Kansas State. The Wildcats, like the Fighting Illini, made the Elite 8 last year.

If there was any speculation about Hawkins chasing money in the transfer portal, his NIL deal at K-State confirms that speculation. Hawkins’ deal is reported to be over $2 million.

North Carolina did add a couple starters in the transfer portal, though, snagging Cade Tyson from Belmont and Ven-Allen Lubin from Vanderbilt. Tyson is expected to replace Cormac Ryan at small forward, while Lubin will likely replace Harrison Ingram at power forward.

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UNC basketball shouldn’t fret about transfer portal misses

Jalen Washington, Zayden High and James Brown should give Tar Heel Nation hope at the center spot next year for UNC basketball.

Filling the shoes of an all-time program great is never easy.

The UNC men’s basketball team is trying to do exactly that in the transfer portal, as it tries to replace the production of Armando Bacot with an experienced center. Bacot left Chapel Hill as the program leader in rebounds and double-doubles, a mark he could hold forever, given how rapidly players enter and exit a program nowadays.

North Carolina had ties to Aaron Bradshaw, Cliff Omoruyi and Oumar Ballo. The latter two spent the majority of last season in starting roles. The Tar Heels also had their eye on another towering center, Danny Wolf, only for him to choose Michigan.

Despite all this, UNC should feel comfortable about the position it’s in.

In case you’re focusing more on the misses, let us remind you Jalen Washington has been waiting for his starting opportunity behind Bacot.

Washington averaged 3.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last year, but he also never played more than 16 minutes per contest.

I like Washington a lot because not only can he play solid basketball in the paint, but he has a solid jumper and the ability to stretch the floor, something Bacot didn’t do. Washington is also 6 feet, 10 inches.

Behind Washington returns Zayden High, a 6-foot-9 forward who likely slots into a reserve center role this coming fall. High played in 23 games last season, but North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis repeatedly praised High’s energy and intangibles.

Rounding out the center rotation will be James Brown, an incoming four-star center from Link Academy. Brown, who is 6-foot-10, will likely see minutes at the five spot while High plays mainly at power forward.

Oh – and there’s a possibility the Tar Heels snag one (or more) available transfers in the portal.

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What Jonas Aidoo’s Arkansas commitment means for UNC

What will the Tar Heels do at center next season?

In just his three years as UNC’s head men’s basketball coach, Hubert Davis has shown Tar Heel Nation a strong ability to recruit.

Davis landed Elliot Cadeau, Pete Nance and Brady Manek in recent years, and he brings in five-star All-Americans Drake Powell and Ian Jackson this coming season.

One of North Carolina’s greatest needs in the coming season is an experienced center, something it doesn’t have on the roster right now.

Jalen Washington is the projected starting center. Though he has enjoyed some big moments in that role, he averaged just 7.4 minutes per game over his first two years in Chapel Hill. Zayden High will also see minutes at the 5 this season, while the Tar Heels also bring in four-star center James Brown.

UNC is looking to the transfer portal for an experienced big man. After striking out on Danny Wolf, Oumar Ballo, appeared to be among the favorites to land Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo.

However, Aidoo announced his commitment to Arkansas on Monday. If Aidoo had joined the Tar Heels, he would have been playing just 30 minutes down the road from his hometown.

With North Carolina missing three of the portal’s top available centers, what do they do now at the 5?

I like the idea of rolling with Washington, High and Brown. Though none have much collegiate experience, this trio gives Hubert Davis a great idea of which unit his centers fit best with.

The Tar Heels aren’t entirely out of the running for a transfer portal center yet, though. Rutgers big man Cliff Omoruyi is visiting Chapel Hill on Thursday.

If Hubert can get Omoruyi to commit, missing on Aidoo will not be such a big loss after all.

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Rutgers transfer center Cliff Omoruyi visiting UNC on Thursday

Can Hubert Davis convince Cliff Omoruyi to become a North Carolina Tar Heel on Thursday?

Since Armando Bacot exhausted his final year of eligibility, the UNC men’s basketball team has been searching for a center in the transfer portal.

North Carolina was linked to the likes of Danny Wolf, Aaron Bradshaw, Oumar Ballo and Jonas Aidoo, only for them to choose other programs.

The Tar Heels still have centers Jalen Washington and Zayden High on their roster, plus they bring in 4-star James Brown, but they’re looking to bolster a fairly inexperienced position by adding some experience.

Thursday could bring UNC the good news it needs in a wild transfer portal.

Cliff Omoruyi, the Rutgers transfer who is linked to North Carolina, is visiting campus on Thursday, May 2.

Omuruyi is the epitome of a reliable center, averaging double-digit points and over eight rebounds per game over the last three seasons. He was a part of two NCAA Tournament runs during his time in New Jersey, as Rutgers snapped a 38-year drought between Big Dance wins in Omoruyi’s freshman season (2020-2021).

With Chapel Hill being Omoruyi’s final visit, head UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis needs to lay all his cards out on the table.

If the Tar Heels make a strong enough impression, they could enter the weekend with a starting center for the upcoming season.

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UNC target Danny Wolf commits to Michigan

The UNC basketball team is no longer in the running for former Yale big man Danny Wolf.

The transfer portal is alive and well in college basketball.

We’ve seen plenty of big-name transfers commit already, with the latest being former Wisconsin guard AJ Storr to Kansas. There’s been several teams who’ve brought players in for visits, only for those players to choose other destinations.

One highly-touted player the North Carolina Tar Heels looked at was Danny Wolf, the 7-foot big man from Yale, who averaged 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game last year. UNC is in need of an experienced center for the coming season, as it only returns Jalen Washington and brings in 4-star James Brown.

Unfortunately, Wolf is now off the market, as he committed to Michigan on Saturday.

Michigan was arguably the worst Power 5 basketball school last year, compiling an 8-24 (3-17) record, which led to the recent firing of head coach Juwan Howard. After a shocking win against ranked Wisconsin on Feb. 7, the Wolverines lost nine straight to end the year.

Getting Wolf is a massive win for new head coach Dusty May, who is trying to restore Michigan to Big 10 prominence.

Missing out of Wolf isn’t the end of the world for North Carolina, which is still in the mix for Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo and Rutgers big man Cliff Omuruyi. I’d be fine with either guy, but nabbing Aidoo would allow him to play in his home state, as Aidoo grew up in Durham.

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