There was so much drama here for UNC basketball leading up to its season-opener against Central Arkansas. For so many fans, it seemed like the Luka Bogavac mess was going to keep going, as he hadn't been cleared. However, minutes before the opening tip, it was revealed he was good to go.
Hubert Davis won't be satisfied until UNC basketball accomplishes this goal consistently
Nine games into the season, it's safe to say that the wait was worth it for the veteran and Hubert Davis. Bogavac has stepped in and done exactly what the Heels have asked of him, which has been even bigger due to the fact that Seth Trimble suffered his workout injury. In the win over Georgetown on Sunday, Bogavac once again had Heels fans grinning from ear to ear, pouring in 14 points and adding four rebounds.
Luka Bogavac since Seth Trimble went out of the lineup for North Carolina:
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 8, 2025
12.7 PPG.
Has hit double figures every game during that span.
A consistent perimeter scoring presence in Chapel Hill to complement Wilson/Veesaar inside.
Luka Bogavac continues delivering for UNC basketball and Hubert Davis
On the year, the 22-year-old standout is averaging 12.2 points, three assists and 2.9 rebounds per contest. Are those the kind of numbers that steal the show on SportsCenter each night? No, not at all, but that's what Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar are there for.
Instead, Bogavac is being asked to step in and deliver for this team when his number is called. He's doing just that. Again, with Trimble suffering his injury, it felt like a major setback for the program. However, the Tar Heels have been able to ride out the storm without him, highlighted by wins over Kansas and Kentucky.
Sure, the loss to Michigan State recently felt like a bit of a bummer, but this team is 8-1 on the year and ranked No. 14 in the country in the latest AP Top 25. Had you drawn out this scenario for fans leading up to the campaign, people would have taken it in a second.
After missing out on some transfer targets, Davis shifted his focus to other guys and Bogavac was high on his list. The excitement of his signing was reduced because of the eligibility issues, but things were finally figured out and Bogavac has been a joy to watch since. With Trimble hopefully returning sooner rather than later, it's only going to help Bogavac the rest of the way this season too.