Tag: Tyzhaun Claude

Where do Tar Heels land in college basketball insider Jon Rothstein’s preseason rankings?

Jon Rothstein knows college basketball. He’s really high on the UNC men’s basketball team in his preseason rankings.

We’re just over two months away from the start of college basketball season – and the North Carolina Tar Heels are eager to show how much they’ve improved in the offseason.

College basketball insider Jon Rothstein is high on UNC’s chances entering the 2024-2025, as he ranks UNC seventh in his “Rothstein 45” rankings.

Reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis decided to stay his final season, which immediately made UNC ACC Championship contenders. Davis wasn’t the only Tar Heel to stay, as center Jalen Washington, guards Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble will also be back.

What North Carolina lost in Armando Bacot, Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan, it replaced with Ven-Allen Lubin, Cade Tyson, 5-star freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell. Just when you thought the Tar Heels were done making moves, they added Georgia Tech transfer Tyzhaun Claude.

UNC will have a chance to truly prove itself in non-conference play, with a grueling schedule that includes Kansas, Dayton, Auburn/Iowa State, Alabama, Florida and UCLA.

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1828819276901601608

I agree with these rankings, except for where Iowa State and Baylor are ranked. I’m not saying North Carolina should be ranked ahead of either team, but these three are on an equal level from a talent standpoint.

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North Carolina lands ACC forward via transfer portal

The North Carolina Tar Heels added transfer forward Tyzhaun Claude from Georgia Tech as the offseason comes to a close.

First it was the Kansas Jayhawks adding a marquee transfer late in the offseason in David Coit, a 20 point per game scorer from Northern Illinois.

Now it’s another blue blood getting reinforcements just before the school year begins, as the North Carolina Tar Heels secured a commitment from Georgia Tech transfer forward Tyzhaun Claude on Wednesday.

Claude entered the portal back on April 1 but, like Coit, didn’t get a report he was going to be eligible this upcoming season until the NCAA approved his waiver last week. Georgetown was known to be heavily in pursuit of Claude, but ultimately the 6’7 forward will take his talents to Chapel Hill.

Claude averaged 4.8 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets last season, starting four games. He posted nine points, eight rebounds, and three blocks for Georgia Tech in an upset win over the Tar Heels on January 30.

The native of Goldsboro, NC began his career at Morehead State, spending three years there before spending one season at Western Carolina where he averaged 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds.

Claude joins a Tar Heels program that has long been on the hunt for more reinforcements up front in the absence of star Armando Bacot.

Carolina missed out on known targets Cliff Omoruyi and Coleman Hawkins, but did bring in Vanderbilt big man Ven-Allen Lubin to compete with returners Jae’Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington. Now Claude will figure into the mix as well as Hubert Davis looks to field a team capable of taking down the star-studded Duke Blue Devils in the ACC in 2024-25.

Tar Heels could be adding a former Yellow Jacket in basketball transfer portal

The UNC men’s basketball team offered yet another forward in the transfer portal.

The UNC men’s basketball team looked to the transfer portal to fill a couple starting spots for its upcoming season, which starts on Monday, Nov. 4 against Elon at the Dean Dome.

North Carolina originally snagged Cade Tyson from Belmont, then later Ven-Allen Lubin from Vanderbilt.

It doesn’t appear that head coach Hubert Davis is done fine-tuning the Tar Heels’ 2024-2025 roster.

On Saturday Aug. 10, it was reported that UNC reached out to Georgia Tech transfer Tyzhaun Claude. A Goldsboro, North Carolina native, Claude spent his first three seasons at Morehead State before transferring to Western Carolina.

Claude appeared in 32 games (four starts) for the Yellow Jackets last year, averaging 4.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Claude’s best collegiate season was the year before at Western Carolina, where he broke out to average a career-high 15.4 points per game.

If the Tar Heels are able to land Claude, who stands 6’7″, he’d likely be a reserve forward.

Snagging Claude isn’t a must-get for UNC, but he also couldn’t hurt. North Carolina doesn’t have a ton of depth at small forward, as 5-star freshman Ian Jackson and Drake Powell are likely to split time at that spot.

Good teams always have depth, something the Tar Heels have struggled with in recent years. Here’s to hoping Claude chooses UNC.

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