3 players who need to have a breakout season for the UNC basketball program

I think most UNC basketball fans could have guessed those top two, but after Washington and Cadeau, this list becomes a little muddier. There are a handful of Tar Heels who can give North Carolina a spark, but I’m going with Zayden High at this final spot.

High had a fairly underwhelming freshman season, mainly because he didn’t see the floor much. When he was out there, he looked a little jittery and foul happy, but his aggressiveness, hustle and motor give him some intriguing upside.

During the 2023 preseason, Armando Bacot praised High’s versatility. The Tar Heels' all-time leading rebounder even named High as the teammate who wasn’t getting enough national attention.

“With that length and size, and his mobility, it’s really impressive what [Zayden] can do. In a couple years, we will definitely see him becoming a pro."

High certainly has a lot to prove at the college level before we call him a future pro. However, if Bacot — a guy who sees all the behind-the-scenes work — was that impressed with High, there might be something special to his game.

The fact that High played guard in early high school should excite all UNC basketball fans. High’s ball handling experience gives him a very unique skill set to tap into as a big man for the Tar Heels. We saw flashes of High’s ball handling skills during the 2024 UNC basketball alumni game in June (as you can view below).

At the 5:50 mark, High gave a head fake at the three-point line and took former NBA player Danny Green off the dribble. High hit a fluid spin move going to his right to finish with an and-one at the rim.

High is still a bit of a project, and I don’t expect him to be a game-changing point-forward for the Heels this season. However, if he can use his athleticism and channel his aggression, he might be the surprise player for the UNC basketball program this season.

There’s more to High than meets the eye.

While there’s an argument for several other Heels to claim a spot on this list, Jalen Washington, Elliot Cadeau and Zayden High are the three players who need to make a jump for the Tar Heels to go deep in March this season.