North Carolina checked off their biggest portal priority by landing 7-footer Henri Veesaar from Arizona. But now, the Tar Heels are in hot pursuit of their next biggest need: landing a starting point guard.
Last season, North Carolina faced problems with a thin frontcourt and an overcrowded backcourt. During this offseason, with RJ Davis graduating, Elliot Cadeau transferring, and Ian Jackson entering the portal, UNC faces the exact opposite problem. The Tar Heels look imposing down low with rising star Veesaar, Ven-Allen Lubin expected to return, and incoming five-star freshman forward Caleb Wilson. But during this young offseason, UNC has more question marks in the guard group.
North Carolina does have some solid pieces to build around in the backcourt. Head Coach Hubert Davis and General Manager Jim Tanner secured a commitment from West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell back on April 1. Powell has great positional size, listed at 6-foot-6 and capable of playing the 2 and 3 spots. The Tar Heels also hope to bring back veteran guard Seth Trimble for his senior season. And UNC brings in two four-star combo guards in freshmen Isaiah Denis and Derek Dixon. That’s a strong core. But of course, the elephant in the room is, who is UNC’s next point guard? None of those guards mentioned are true pass-first initiators.
North Carolina is hard at work, trying to find who is best fit to be the next leader of their offense. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, North Carolina is one of four schools scheduling a visit with Michigan State point guard Tre Holloman.
Michigan State transfer Tre Holloman has scheduled visits to Baylor, North Carolina, NC State and Villanova, a source tells @On3sports.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) April 8, 2025
The team captain averaged 9.1 points and 3.7 assists this season.https://t.co/afGIwWp3qR pic.twitter.com/PCSdKq1c9d
So how does Holloman’s game stack up? The rising senior is listed at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. During his junior season, Holloman had a well-rounded statline, averaging 9.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He logged 23 minutes per contest and got 16 starts on the season. Holloman put up 19 points and 7 assists versus the Tar Heels in their Maui Invitational matchup.
Holloman is a do-it-all kind of point guard, but a master of none. He’s not a pure scorer or a flashy passer, but he is consistent and dependable — some of the most important traits a point guard can have. Holloman is an accurate passer, a respectable defender, and he’s not going to make many mistakes, averaging just 1.6 turnovers per game. He’s decent from beyond the arc, shooting 33% on four attempts per game, but there’s room for improvement in his efficiency. He only shot 37% from the field last season. There’s a lot to like about Holloman, as well as some areas for growth. He’d bring senior leadership and stability to UNC, and he’s a solid candidate for the next point guard in Chapel Hill.
Being named the starting point guard at North Carolina is one of the most difficult yet rewarding honors in the entire country. So, who’s up for the job?