NCAA Basketball: 5 under-the-radar freshmen to watch in 2018-19

CG Coby White, North Carolina

Nassir Little was the crown jewel of UNC’s recruiting class (and rightfully so, he’ll be one of the best players in the entire country next season) but Coby White may be the most important to Carolina’s success. Why? He’s tasked with replacing program legend Joel Berry, who led the Heels to back-to-back national championship games and the national title in 2017.

White is not a natural point guard – he’s a scorer who averaged 21.6 points per game on the Nike EYBL circuit last summer – but has a lot of experience being the primary ball-handler and will be forced to play next to Kenny Williams given North Carolina’s need at the point guard position.

"“It’s been so long since I’ve played off the ball. I don’t even know what it will feel like,” White told InsideCarolina.com’s Ross Martin. “I feel like it will be easier for me to play point guard because I have been playing it for so long. I feel like in college I am going to play the one and the two. I feel like I am going to play more of the two because of how good I can shoot the ball… I love playing with the ball in my hands. I can also create. I think I have pretty good vision on the court and playmaking skills.”"

White is clearly focused on his playmaking but, should he win the starting job over Seventh Woods, he won’t be relied on to necessarily create for everyone else. Berry never averaged over 3.8 assists per game and only averaged 3.2 during his senior season. And, in reality, UNC hasn’t had a true playmaker at the position since Kendall Marshall.

All White will have to do is prove that he can run Roy Williams’ offense effectively and take care of the ball. That happens and the Heels will be a contender again.