Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Projecting Tar Heels’ starting lineup for next season

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Kerwin Walton #24, R.J. Davis #4, Day'Ron Sharpe #11, Leaky Black #1 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game against the Marquette Golden Eagles at the Dean Smith Center on February 24, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Marquette won 83-70. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Kerwin Walton #24, R.J. Davis #4, Day'Ron Sharpe #11, Leaky Black #1 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game against the Marquette Golden Eagles at the Dean Smith Center on February 24, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Marquette won 83-70. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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UNC Basketball
Jan 12, 2021; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Kerwin Walton (24) shoots as Syracuse Orange forward Quincy Guerrier (1) and forward Marek Dolezaj (21) defend in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Kerwin Walton

Kerwin Walton came on quickly in his maiden voyage with the Tar Heels, establishing himself as a starter just a month into the season. He did it with a lethal three-point shot, one that the Tar Heels desperately needed on a team that, for the most part, couldn’t throw a stone in the ocean the majority of games.

He shot 44.4 percent for the season, and a team-high 42 percent from downtown. His 58 three-pointers were 24 more than that of second-place Caleb Love, and he did it in just 10 additional attempts. He also connected on 84 percent of his free throw attempts, and turned the ball over less than the team’s other four starters, and the top two reserves (Davis, Sharpe).

Walton will resume his role in the starting lineup in 2021, as he’ll be expected to provide offense from the perimeter early and often. He’ll look to expand upon his game this season, though, as his offensive prowess was pretty one-dimensional throughout his freshman campaign.

He should also have some help on the perimeter this season with the addition of Oklahoma transfer Brady Manek. Manek is a career 37.4 percent three-point shooter, and never shot worse than 35.8 percent from the perimeter in any one season with the Sooners (2018-19).

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