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UNC Basketball 2019-20 Player Review: Armando Bacot

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 04: Armando Bacot #5 of the University of North Carolina holds the ball during a game between Georgia Tech and North Carolina at Dean E. Smith Center on January 4, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images).
CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 04: Armando Bacot #5 of the University of North Carolina holds the ball during a game between Georgia Tech and North Carolina at Dean E. Smith Center on January 4, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images). /
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We continue our UNC basketball player season in review series with one of the newest members of the program, freshman big man Armando Bacot.

Justin Pierce | Jeremiah Francis | Anthony Harris | Brandon Huffman | Andrew Platek | Christian Keeling | Leaky Black

Armando Bacot joined the North Carolina basketball program as a 5-star recruit out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. A 6-foot-10, 232-pound center ranked 27th overall in the class of 2019, Bacot was considered the sixth-best player at his position, and No. 6 in the state of Florida. His commitment to Roy Williams and the Tar Heels marked the second consecutive season that the program had hauled in at least one 5-star prospect. He was later joined by consensus No. 1 point guard Cole Anthony, giving the Tar Heels two 5-star prospects in back-to-back recruiting cycles.

Bacot’s commitment also signaled much-needed front court help for North Carolina, who’d struggled to reel in top-flight bigs over the prior couple of years after Tony Bradley’s unexpected departure for the NBA after just one season. He joined junior Garrison Brooks in the starting lineup, giving the Tar Heels a 6-foot-9, 6-foot-10 front court duo they hadn’t seen since Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks in 2017.

Bacot had a solid freshman season in Chapel Hill, averaging 9.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He recorded 11 double-doubles in 32 games, and established himself as the team’s second-leading offensive rebounder. He scored a season-high 23 points to go along with 12 rebounds in a 78-74 victory over No. 11 Oregon on November 29, just a week after a 22-point, 14-rebound performance against Elon. He had an impressive 19-point, 12-rebound, seven-assist game against Miami in late January, and pulled down a season-high 16 boards against Virginia a few weeks later.

Granted, Bacot has work to do when it comes to his jump shot, interior moves, footwork and strength with the ball in his hands. He shot less than 47 percent for the season, a number that is sure to improve once he learns to go straight up with the ball in the painted area. He’ll also see more success and efficiency on the offensive end of the floor when he’s able to hold on to the ball in traffic better, something he struggled with throughout the season that led to many of his 55 turnovers. He’s got tremendous upside, though, and front court players in Roy Williams’ system tend to make a huge jump from year one to year two.

Next. Tar Heels' projected 2020-21 starting lineup. dark

Stick with Keeping It Heel throughout our player season in review series, and everything UNC basketball.

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