By ADAM ZAGORIA
North Carolina figures to once again be in the mix for a Final Four appearance in 2023 after junior big man Armando Bacot announced Wednesday he will return for his senior season.
“I’m back,” he announced, adding he wants to “put another banner in the Smith Center.”
The 6-foot-10 junior averaged 16.3 points and 13.1 rebounds this past season and a was a major factor as the Tar Heels reached the NCAA championship game against Kansas.
He had six straight double-doubles in the NCAA Tournament, including a 20-point, 22-rebound outing against Saint Peter’s, an 11-point, 21-rebound night against Duke in the national semifinals and a 15-pound, 15-board performance on a bad ankle against Kansas in the title game.
He is one of only four players since 1985-86 to grab 500 rebounds in a single season. The others are Oscar Tshiebwe, Kenneth Faried and Blake Griffin.
The opportunity to make money via NIL helps players like Bacot remain in school instead of going pro when they are not guaranteed to be a first-round pick.
Caleb Love, Leaky Black and R.J. Davis have yet to announce their plans for next season, but if all or most of them come back the Tar Heels will be among the favorites to win the national championship next season.
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