UNC Basketball: Jalen Washington will be available vs NC State

After missing the Boston College game, UNC basketball freshman Jalen Washington is expected to return on Saturday against NC State.

Prior to Tuesday’s contest against Boston College, it was announced that freshman big man Jalen Washington would be unavailable for the game.

Washington injured his ankle during shootaround, which forced him to be sidelined. This was also major news, considering the Tar Heels were already thin in the front court.

Fortunately, Pete Nance was able to return from injury that night, and the Tar Heels won the game. In even better news, it looks as if Hubert Davis will have all three of his big men on Saturday afternoon as his team hosts NC State.

During his press conference on Friday, Davis told reporters that Washington practiced yesterday and will be available against the Wolfpack. Given his injury history prior to his college career, it’s encouraging to see that the injury isn’t one that will force him to miss an extended period of time.

With Will Shaver already out for the season, the Tar Heels could use Washington’s presence off the bench. He provides much-needed depth, especially when the likes of Armando Bacot or Pete Nance get into foul trouble or simply need a breather.

NC State possesses some size, so it will be interesting to see how the Tar Heels match up with them on Saturday afternoon. Regardless of how his minutes shape up, it’s great to have both Washington back in the mix, as the hope is that he’ll continue to develop into an important role player down the stretch.

Follow us @KeepingItHeel on Twitter and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of UNC basketball news, updates, and recruiting.