Zayden High has put together a very impressive three-game stretch for the Tar Heels.
The previously sparingly used big man was thrown into the fire due to multiple injuries in the front court. The famous saying, "be ready when your number is called" fits rather well here, as High has been more than ready to help his team when his opportunities arise.
In two games that Henri Veesaar was sidelined, High was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time in his collegiate career. The San Antonio, Texas native dropped 15 points and 7 rebounds against Pittsburgh and posted a double-double outing against NC State, production that no one saw coming from the sophomore forward.
On Saturday, High transitioned back to a reserve role (with Veesaar's return to the lineup), and even though his minutes decreased, he was still incredibly effective.
In 19 minutes of action, High fell one point shy of a double-double, hauling in a career-high 11 rebounds. While his stat line was impressive, there was one play that stood out to head coach Hubert Davis the most, one in which he mentioned in his post game press conference:
You can't teach effort
“Zayden was huge again for us tonight," Davis said. "I know he had nine points and 11 rebounds, but as many good plays as he made, the one that sticks out to me was in the first half, and there was a loose ball on the floor, and he dove on it.
Those are the type of plays that allow you to win, the little, boring, mundane things that make big things happen. And you know, his rebounding is real, and he gets to the offensive glass and boxes out."
Career-HIGH 11 rebounds pic.twitter.com/AZZsRjvmhg
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) February 22, 2026
Davis has been looking for that spark all season long, especially from his bench unit. He knows you can teach skills, but you can't teach effort, something he's encouraging from his guys on a daily basis.
High echoed that sentiment, talking about how his effort is something he always can control.
“That’s just effort,” High said. “That’s just wanting it more. I saw the ball on the floor, and I just went to go get it. That’s something I can control every single night.”
Where did this version of Zayden High come from?
Of course, when you're a four-star recruit, people expect you to be really good right from the moment you step on campus. However, multiple factors play a role in this, especially playing time (and finding an established role in your team's rotation).
High had struggled to find that permanent role in the rotation up to this point, but the last three games have shown what he's capable of doing.
So, what changed for the 6-foot-10 forward?
“I feel like going in there, I was thinking too much about making a mistake, than just going out there and playing,” High said. “But now I go out there and play free.”
The Tar Heels hope that High can continue to play free, providing some quality minutes in whatever role he's asked to fill. Based on the recent data, Zayden High has made his case to be an important factor down the stretch, as the UNC basketball program is in a much-better spot if High can continue to produce at a high level (no pun intended!).