The new normal in college basketball being what it is, there is a ton of turnover on the Tar Heel roster. With transfers lost and gained, a few now in the NBA, and incoming recruits, UNC has nine new faces on the roster.
In what seems like a make or break year for coach Hubert Davis, let’s try to predict what the starting lineup will be.
Point Guard
It will most likely be Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans at the point. He shot 44 percent from behind the arc last season which is a welcome change after the departure of Elliot Cadeau.
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In the backup role we could see Seth Trimble slide over as he has expressed interest at the point position. Also, freshman combo guard Derek Dixon will probably see some time in this slot.
Wings
In the Carolina offense the shooting guard and small forward positions are virtually interchangeable, so we’ll look at both here. As a proven senior, incredibly reliable defender, and emerging leader, Trimble is the most assured starter in the lineup.
Seth will likely eat up a lot of minutes at the two position but we could see Isaiah Denis and/or Dixon getting some playing time in a relief role.
While one wing spot feels solidified, the other is entirely up in the air. I’m leaning toward international transfer Luka Bogavac, who averaged 14 points per game and shot nearly 40% from three in the Adriatic Basketball Association last year. His experience at the pro-level and 22-year age will likely lead to Hubert starting him at least at the beginning of the season.
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But there is plenty of depth and others who will definitely see time at the three and could force their way into the starting lineup. West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell can also shoot well from the outside. 6’11 Jarin Stevenson, who transferred from Alabama, would add significant size to a lineup that already includes much more height than last year’s squad which is of course by design as Hubert has stated. Then there’s Jaydon Young, who really heated up for Virginia Tech last season before transferring.
Power Forward
OMG won’t it be nice to even have a four this season? And it appears we got a good one in five-star Caleb Wilson. The 6’9 incoming freshman was the number eight prospect in the nation, By all accounts, he’s an elite talent who produces results on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Jarin Stevenson could also see some minutes at this spot.
Center
Oh to have a center again! We knew we’d miss Armando last season but we never imagined how much. Seven-foot Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar will step in as the new Tar Heel five, a welcome sight to be sure.
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James Brown showed some signs of promise last year in limited minutes and the volatile Zayden High may or may not see the court but his fiery demeanor was somehow both appreciated and worrisome in his freshman season.
As with all transfers and freshman recruits, you really can never tell what you’re gonna get. It’s all a toss-up.
But, with the information we have going in, here’s the best guess at what the starting lineup for the 2025-26 North Carolina Tar Heels will be.
PG – Kyan Evans
SG – Seth Trimble
SF – Luka Bogavac
PF – Caleb Wilson
C – Henri Veesaar
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