6-foot-10 junior Armando Bacot, Center/Power Forward, UNC Tar Heels
After testing the NBA Draft waters last season, UNC basketball’s Armando Bacot seems to have taken what he’s learned and applied it on the hardwood. Bacot is averaging a double-double in 2021-22 with a career-high 12.1 rpg along with 16.3 ppg and 1.4 bpg, also career-high as the Tar Heels are fourth in ACC basketball following their 100-80 victory over the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday.
He finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds to record his 16th double-double of the season through 21 games in UNC basketball’s win over NC State. He’s posted double figures in rebounds in 10 consecutive games for the Tar Heels as he’s shown his growth and development around the rim and paint area.
Armando Bacot records his 1️⃣6️⃣th double-double of the season!
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) January 29, 2022
▫️18 points
▫️13 rebounds
▫️6 blocks @UNC_basketball @iget_buckets35 | #CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/WyZ49IT3w3
Bacot has shown off a much-improved body and quicker step on the block with the Tar Heels. He registered a total of 18 double-doubles from 2019-21. This season, he’s on pace to finish with a lot more than that total with the tone he’s set.
As a result, he could find himself in the 2022 NBA Draft lottery with his ability to rebound in bunches and make his presence felt inside on offense. He hasn’t developed his outside game entirely just yet, but he has managed to shoot 1-of-5 from behind the arc in 2021-22, which is also something to observe down the road.