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North Carolina Tar Heels: Questioning J.P. Tokoto’s NBA Draft Declaration

By Chris Godfrey

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Every year, the period after the NCAA Tournament is riddled with questionable decisions from college basketball players regarding their professional futures. While some names like Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor are viewed as inevitable departures, it is the unexpected casualties that have the potential to decimate national title contenders for the following. Count J.P. Tokoto among the latter group of names. North Carolina’s defensive specialist and noted high flyer shocked those residing on Chapel Hill by announcing that he would be leaving the Tar Heels (and his final year of eligibility) to enter the NBA Draft.

Tokoto is no lock to be selected in the first round. He isn’t even guaranteed to be selected at all. The mock draft aficionados at Draft Express have slated Tokoto as the 25th pick in the draft…the 2016 draft. It’s a position that he could have improved by returning, but Tokoto believes that it is in his best interest to further his development elsewhere.

Tokoto has yet to sign with an agent, so there is time for him to change course and return, but at the moment he seems to be firm in his decision to go pro. Here are three questions that Tar Heels fans will want answers to in the the aftermath of his departure.

Who takes Tokoto’s place in the Tar Heel starting lineup?

If we’re looking at the current roster, the answer seems very obvious. Theo Pinson came to North Carolina as a highly regarded recruit, but after failing to beat out Justin Jackson for a substantial spot in the Tar Heel rotation, there didn’t seem to be too much playing time left for him. Still, Pinson managed to show pieces of growth and development throughout the season. When I projected UNC’s lineup in our Way-Too-Early Top 25, I included Tokoto as a starter on the wing alongside Justin Jackson. It seems that Nate Britt would be too small to play in the backcourt with Marcus Paige on a nightly basis, meaning this spot all but belongs to Pinson unless…

With Tokoto leaving, the Tar Heels are definitely the favorites to sign Brandon Ingram, right?

In case you’re unfamiliar, Ingram is one of the top young scoring talents in the Class of 2015. He’s deciding between local destinations such as UNC, Duke, and NC State. As to be expected, Kentucky has a dog in the fight as well. You can view some of his lite work here…

Tar Heel conspiracy theorist have been suggesting that the sudden Tokoto departure came after he learned that Ingram would be committing and possibly sapping the would-be senior for playing time.

I don’t prescribe to that theory because it would make more since for Ingram to play with Tokoto, which would send Jackson to the bench. Pairing Tokoto’s iffy jump shot with Ingram’s natural scoring ability would be the preferred wing combo.

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    • Admittedly, the departure creates a perfect spot for Ingram to come in and play the two, giving Marcus Paige the second option on the perimeter that he has yearned for since he came to campus. However, Duke has always had an open starting spot on the wing waiting for him, and Ingram never jumped at it. Clearly, there is more to his recruitment than playing time.

    Are the the Tar Heels still national title contenders next year?

    Oh, yeah. Final Four or bust should still be the expectation for the 2015-2016 squad. Though Tokoto was projected as a first round pick in 2016, he was the fourth Tar Heel listed behind Justin Jackson, Brice Johnson, and Theo Pinson (Kennedy Meeks is included in their 2015 mock as a second rounder as well). Those projections don’t even include the team’s best current player, Paige. In other words, the Tar Heels are loaded with or without Tokoto, and big things are to be expected. If the Tar Heels do, in fact, cut down the nets next April — I have a hard time seeing a scenario where Tokoto doesn’t wish he was a part of it.

    Next: Way-Too-Early Top 25

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