UNC Basketball: 5 reasons why the Tar Heels are preseason title contenders

Oh, and just one more [Nassir] Little thing

Luke Maye is an excellent player but he cannot do it all by himself. In college basketball, regardless of how many above-average role players a team has, it takes a couple of stars (at least) to make a deep run happen. This is where incoming recruit Nassir Little can make his mark. He might not be the top-rated recruit in the 2018 class (RJ Barrett) but he is pretty darn close. Ranked at No. 3 in the class, Little is an incredible talent with a tremendously high ceiling.

An excellent two-way player who can lock down wings and fill up the basket on the other end of the floor, Little could be special during 2018-19. While it seems likely that he will only play one year of collegiate ball, that could be all he needs to cut down the nets. Combining the talents of an inside-outside threat like Maye and a high-scoring athletic specimen like Little makes for a dangerous concoction brewing in Chapel Hill.

It is important to be cautious when placing high expectations on freshmen but Little seems like a sure-fire college star. In our preseason National Player of the Year rankings, Little came in at No. 9 (for reference, Maye snagged the No. 2 spot). He is simply that good. Little was a stud at the high school level and he boasts plenty of game and size (6-foot-7 wing) to be a lethal college player.

Next: Updated preseason top-25

UNC basketball fans have plenty to be excited about heading into this campaign. With an elite head coach and a strong mix of experience and youth, this team could be going places in 2018-19. Could the Tar Heels cut down the nets for the second time in three years? Maybe.