UNC Basketball: Five bold predictions for 2021-22 season
By Zack Pearson
Dawson Garcia has a better stat line than Walker Kessler
This UNC roster saw some turnover from a year ago with Day’Ron Sharpe bolting for the NBA and both Garrison Brooks and Walker Kessler transferring from the program. All three are huge losses for UNC’s front court even with Armando Bacot returning.
But the Tar Heels addressed the problem by bringing in a transfer of their own in Marquette’s Dawson Garcia.
The 6-foot-11, 235-pound Garcia picked Marquette over UNC in his recruitment but after one year with the Golden Eagles, he opted to transfer. He should be a key piece to UNC’s front court an likely will start alongside Bacot. Garcia is not only a solid rebounder, averaging 6.6 rebounds per game last year, but he’s a legit scorer that can beat you from the outside too.
In Kessler’s one season at UNC, the center wanted to play more on the perimeter instead of just in the paint. And while Kessler showed ability to knock down shots, UNC thought he was stronger in the paint. The loss of Kessler will be huge and the 7-footer should do well at Auburn, but is it crazy to think that Garcia could be a better fit?
In UNC’s system, Garcia could flourish and be an ideal fit. Would it shock us for Garcia to have a better stat line than Kessler? Not really, and that’s nothing against Kessler either as he has the chance to be really damn good for Auburn. But here, we think Garcia is going to surprise a lot of fans and improve on his 13-point, 6.6 rebound stat line from a year ago.