NCAA Basketball: Analyzing 2021 5-star C Chet Holmgren’s top 7 schools

North Carolina Tar Heels

Carolina vastly underperformed on the court last season, but a mixture of recruiting abnormalities and mid-season injuries failed to position the team for success. A lack of point guard depth and shooting significantly hindered the team’s offensive versatility and ability to keep up with opponents. These problems were echoed in the frontcourt where only Armando Bacot and Garrison Brooks contributed minutes and points on a nightly basis.

Roy Williams sought out a stellar 2020 recruiting class, in all areas, to address these shortcomings. However, incoming recruits Walker Kessler and Day’ron Sharpe have created a bit of logjam for minutes during the 2020 season but also towards realistically recruiting the 2021 class. After Bacot and Brooks leave the program, Kessler and Sharpe will be joined by Sterling Manley to compete for minutes with Holmgren. As a result of his and Kessler’s ability to stretch the floor, both bigs are likely to see a leg up on Sharpe and Manley for time in the rotation.

The offensive versatility for both players increases the versatility of the Tar Heel offense. Coach Williams has shown before, with players like Luke Maye and Tyler Hansbrough, he caters to the strengths of his best players outside of pushing the pace with his guards. Similar to the projected situation at Gonzaga, there will be little pressure on Holmgren to carry the team. With plenty of experience and talent on the roster and potential to add more, he can ease his way into his comfort zone and production.

On the other end of the floor, Carolina projects to have a lot of athleticism on the perimeter. This situation affords Holmgren plus matchups on defenders in the high post or perimeter where he can thrive as a downhill blocker or shot disruptor. He will also be an effective screen defender for many of the ACC’s top guards and he can help to crash the glass for one of the most successful rebounding teams in the nation.