The UNC basketball program is expected to be a bit smaller this year, largely due to the departure of center Armando Bacot. With the six-foot-eleven dominant rebounder gone this offseason, the Tar Heels searched for strength and size to help down low and contribute on the boards.
Enter Ty Claude, the six-foot-seven graduate transfer from Georgia Tech who entered the program in August and will hopefully come off of the bench this season and help out in the rebounding department.
2023-24 Season in Review
Claude, who started his career at Morehead State and had a short stint at Western Carolina, was a force to be reckoned with on the glass during his only season at Georgia Tech in 2023. In just 17.4 minutes per game, Claude averaged 4.8 points and 5.2 rebounds on an efficient 49.5% shooting from the floor.
Claude finished eighth in the ACC in offensive rebounding, averaging 2.4 per game, an impressive feat for a player who averaged just over 17 minutes per game. As a senior with the Yellowjackets, Claude was no stranger to big-time opponents; in fact, he had some of his best games against the ACC's top programs. He finished with eight or more rebounds ten times last season, including games against Duke, Clemson, NC State, and even North Carolina.
In Georgia Tech's 74-73 win over the Tar Heels last season, Claude recorded one of his best statistical games, finishing with nine points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
What to expect in 2024-25
There is one huge concern with Claude- we don't know when he's going to be able to play.
The 2024-25 season marks Claude's sixth year at the D1 level, and North Carolina has been actively working to resolve an eligibility issue. Claude has yet to play for the Tar Heels, including missing the charity exhibition game against Memphis earlier this October and the exhibition against Johnson C. Smith.
But according to 247sports, a source close to the situation at UNC said "at some point he will play, it's just a matter of when."
And when he does, he should contribute significantly to the Tar Heel's physicality and rebounding. The 225-pounder is a force inside the paint and ranked No. 10 nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (15.7%) last season. Claude led the ACC in offensive rebounding percentage at 16% and grabbed at least three offensive rebounds in nine of the 20 ACC regular season games.
Bold Prediction
My bold prediction for Ty Claude is that once he is granted eligibility, he will be the most effective offensive rebounder in the ACC. Last season, he averaged 2.4 offensive rebounds a game and finished eighth in the ACC in that category, and I believe he can make a massive jump in Chapel Hill.
The size of this North Carolina team favors Claude's rebounding numbers, as he will always be one of the biggest players on the team when on the floor with the Tar Heels. With small guards like RJ Davis, Seth Trimble, and Elliot Cadeau all expected to bear heavy minutes this season, I expect Claude to step up and lead this team on the offensive glass.