ACC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

12. Armando Bacot

A 6’10 forward from Richmond, Bacot was among the Top 25 recruits in the class of 2019 and committed to play at North Carolina for Roy Williams. Bacot has been an instrumental weapon the last four seasons with the Tar Heels, including these last two years under Hubert Davis after Williams’ retirement. He’s been a rebounding phenom and solidified the frontcourt for North Carolina.

Bacot was already putting up numbers as a freshman, averaging 9.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in the season shortened by the pandemic. His scoring numbers would increase as his career continued, but he really elevated his game as a junior. During that season, Bacot averaged 16.3 points and 13.1 rebounds a game and led the Tar Heels to the national title game, averaging 15.3 points and 16.5 rebounds during that run. While North Carolina was a disappointment this past season, Bacot’s numbers were still very exceptional.

First Team All-ACC each of the last two seasons, Bacot developed into one of the nation’s best rebounders, leading the ACC in that stat for both of those seasons. He was monumental in North Carolina’s deep postseason run as a junior and has been heavily involved on both sides of the ball. Fittingly enough, his collegiate career is not complete as he’ll return for his fifth and final season with the Tar Heels this upcoming fall, hoping to go out on a high note.