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UNC Basketball: Will Armando Bacot pick the NBA, or return to college?

By Blake Cockrum

Mar 19, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) and forward Armando Bacot (5) and guard Leaky Black (1) talk during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) and forward Armando Bacot (5) and guard Leaky Black (1) talk during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will Armando Bacot return to the UNC basketball program in 2021, or will he leave his name in the NBA Draft?

North Carolina center Armando Bacot entered his name into the 2021 NBA Draft on April 6, less than a week after former UNC head coach Roy Williams announced his retirement. Bacot didn’t hire an agent, leaving open his option to return to Chapel Hill in the fall if he opts out of remaining in the NBA Draft.

Although he still has a few weeks to make a final decision on his future, Bacot appears, by all accounts, to be leaning toward another season of college ball. That notion was echoed in a recent interview with 247Sports National Director of Basketball Eric Bossi.

"“As the deadline to withdraw from the 2021 NBA Draft draws closer, it is starting to look like sophomore big man Armando Bacot will be back for a third season,” Bossi said. “At least that’s what Hubert Davis and North Carolina fans are hoping. Getting ready for his first year as the head coach of his alma mater, Davis could sure use a battle tested and prove interior presence like Bacot who averaged 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds while making almost 63% of his field goal attempts during the last season.”"

Bacot’s decision to return to Chapel Hill — or depart for the NBA — is a big one for first-year UNC head coach Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels. The rising junior led North Carolina in points, rebounds, blocks and shooting percentage a season ago, and he did it in just 22.7 minutes per game. He also averaged just 1.4 turnovers per game as a sophomore, the second-fewest among UNC starters during the 2020-21 season (Kerwin Walton).

There’s a good chance that if Bacot does return to North Carolina, he’ll begin the season as the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, and a unanimous selection for first team All-ACC.

Next. Duke reaching out to 5-star UNC target. dark

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Armando Bacot, and the UNC basketball program.

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