Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Early bold predictions for 2021-22 season

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 08: Assistant coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies during play at the Dean Smith Center on November 8, 2013 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 84-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 08: Assistant coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies during play at the Dean Smith Center on November 8, 2013 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 84-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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UNC Basketball
MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 05: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels goes up for a layup against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Watsco Center on January 05, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Armando Bacot will win ACC Player of the Year

Armando Bacot hasn’t officially announced he was returning after entering his name in the 2021 NBA Draft but all signs point to him returning for his junior season.

Getting Bacot back would be huge for the Tar Heels especially after seeing the jump he made in his game from his freshman to sophomore season. He’s not only a starter but UNC’s best player that is returning and could be the key to a deep run for the Tar Heels.

In 2020-21, Bacot averaged 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game while shooting 62 percent from the field. He was UNC’s best big man as the Tar Heels often leaned on him to get their offense going. There were times where Bacot flat out turned it on and couldn’t be stopped in the paint.

That was a big improvement from his freshman season where he struggled a bit but did get better as the year went on.

Going into last season, the Tar Heels had a preseason player of the year in the ACC with Garrison Brooks earning the honors. However, Brooks struggled throughout the year and never played to that level. But I think Bacot is a candidate to be the best player in the ACC next season especially if he takes that next step.

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