UNC Basketball: Five bold predictions for the 2018-19 season

Nassir Little will start from day one, but Coby White will not

Nassir Little is the best freshman Roy Williams has signed since Harrison Barnes in 2010. He is a top-tier talent, who will have a chance to be the best freshman in college basketball. Little is currently projected to be a top-5 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by many sites.

Traditionally, Williams likes to slowly work his freshmen in the rotation, no matter how talented they are. This will not be the case with Little.

The 6-foot-7 wing is simply to good on both ends of the court to not start from day one. His defensive tools and effort, in particular, are outstanding, which Williams will fall in love with.

Little’s biggest competition for a starting spot will be Cameron Johnson, who is coming off shoulder surgery and is reportedly not yet practicing with the team at full speed. The job will be Little’s to lose, and with his work ethic and motor, don’t expect him too.

Coby White is an elite scoring guard who has already racked up an impressive number of accolades in his young basketball career. White is the all-time leading scorer in the history of North Carolina High School basketball, won NC Gatorade Player of the Year in 2017 and ’18, and helped lead Team USA to a gold medal this past June.

That being said, it is extremely difficult for a freshman point guard to run Williams’ offense, especially early on in the season. This will give the edge early on to Seventh Woods, who will be entering his junior season at Carolina.

Woods has had an injury-riddled career thus far in Chapel Hill, but it is too early to give up on the South Carolina native. Woods is a very good defender and distributor who sports some solid athleticism, he just needs to stay healthy and get his confidence back.

With a better grasp of the offense due to more experience, Woods will start from day one, but don’t be surprised if White hears his name called with the starters in March.