UNC Basketball: What loss to Texas AM means for the future

Leadership role

Both Berry and Pinson were the leaders of this Tar Heels team but with them gone who will fill that void?

The attention turns to the graduate transfer Johnson and seniors Maye and Williams.

The three will step into a new role in their careers beginning next season and with the Tar Heels welcoming in a very talented recruiting class, they are going to need that leadership to come from somewhere.

An early look at next season’s team shows us that they will have shooters, talent and some good post play if all goes right. But there still needs to be that leadership when times get tough and games get close.

Going on the road into hostile environments won’t be easy, either.

With Maye taking on stardom at the national level, the next thing for him to develop is that leadership trait. That can happen right now, during offseason workouts, training camp and even in exhibition games. But it has to happen.

For Williams, he’s more soft-spoken but as a senior he will have to step up. Williams could be the best all-around player the Tar Heels have and it could go a long way for a younger team.

After one season with the Tar Heels, Johnson now has a feeling of what it’s like playing for the program. Johnson would be entering his fifth college season next year so the experience is certainly there.

It will be interesting to see who emerges as the leader of this team or if it’s a group effort by the three.

Either way, this is something to keep an eye on.