Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: 5 reasons to be excited about Tar Heels in 2021

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 08: "Ramses", mascot of the North Carolina Tar Heels, makes an entrance before a game against the Duke Blue Devils on February 08, 2018 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 82-78. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 08: "Ramses", mascot of the North Carolina Tar Heels, makes an entrance before a game against the Duke Blue Devils on February 08, 2018 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 82-78. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
UNC Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, NC – FEBRUARY 24: Dawson Garcia #33 of Marquette takes a throw-in during a game between Marquette and North Carolina at Dean E. Smith Center on February 24, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

Tar Heels add trio of talented forwards

After bidding farewell to Day’Ron Sharpe, Walker Kessler, Garrison Brooks, Sterling Manley and Walker Miller in the offseason, Hubert Davis had to figure out a way to quickly retool the Tar Heels. The first-year head coach did just that, getting commitments from three players in the NCAA transfer portal. Justin McKoy, Brady Manek and Dawson Garcia committed to North Carolina, giving the Tar Heels shooting, defense and depth all at the same time.

McKoy spent two years with the Virginia Cavaliers before his transfer to UNC, and Manek was a four-year starter and sharpshooter for the Oklahoma Sooners. Garcia was a highly-touted recruit that was likely on his way to Chapel Hill prior to the Walker Kessler commitment. It was at that time that Garcia strayed away from the Tar Heels’ loaded front court, and took his talents to Marquette. All three players offer a unique skill set, and will be incredibly helpful to the Tar Heels this season.

Manek, having already used up his traditional four years of college eligibility, is on a one-year NCAA-granted season thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Tar Heels will enjoy his size, rebounding prowess and more than anything else, his ability to shoot threes. McKoy has three seasons of eligibility remaining if he so chooses, and the Tar Heels would love to have him in town for each of them. His proclivity for playing tough, tenacious defense may be his calling card, but he should also develop into a rather attractive offensive player, too. And Garcia, with his size, athleticism, and shot-making abilities, provides the Tar Heels with a stretch four or five that can play inside and out, making Armando Bacot’s job much easier than a season ago.

Home/UNC Basketball