UNC Basketball: Analyzing transfer targets Cormac Ryan, Harrison Ingram, Matthew Cleveland

Paxson Wojcik

Wojcik emerged last season as Brown’s best player, easily posting career highs in points, minutes, rebounds, assists, and steals. The 6’5″ guard made more than two threes a game on 38% shooting from deep, and it’s likely that Hubert Davis sees him as part of the solution to the Tar Heels’ woeful production from beyond the arc.

Besides being a capable shooter, Wojcik is an outstanding rebounder from the guard position. His low turnover rate will be a breath of fresh air for a team that was plagued by carelessness with the ball at times last season.

Wojcik has some familiarity with the Dean Dome, as he was a big part of the Brown team that put a scare into the Tar Heels on their home court in 2021. He led the team in minutes and scored 14 points as the Bears lost 94-87. Perhaps both he and Hubert Davis liked what they saw?

Jae’Lyn Withers

The less said about last season’s Louisville Cardinals, the better. Kenny Payne’s squad was one of the more inept major conference teams we’ve seen in quite some time, and we’ll find out this year if more of the blame belongs to Payne or the players.

Eight Cardinals have entered the transfer portal, and one of those outgoing transfers is Jae’Lyn Withers. The 6’9″ power forward averaged just 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last year, but he has one skill that Hubert Davis has clearly prioritized: three-point shooting.

Withers shot 41.7% from three last season, which makes me think Carolina envisions him being the Brady Manek replacement that Pete Nance was unfairly expected to be. With the size to bang down low and rebound, and the touch to force defenses to respect his outside shot, Withers’ presence could open things up for RJ Davis to drive and kick, while simultaneously discouraging teams from doubling Armando Bacot in the post.