NCAA Basketball: 8 teams who managed to survive 2024 transfer portal madness

North Carolina Tar Heels

Like Kansas, the Tar Heels lost a ton of players a year ago. The good news is that they scored on a pair of transfers (Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan), which led them to an ACC regular-season title. Both of them are gone, along with star big man, Armando Bacot.

What’s important is who didn’t leave. Almost everyone with eligibility decided to stay, outside of backup big man, James Okonkwo. There was a second UNC player who hit the portal in Seth Trimble, a 6’3 guard who averaged 5.2 ppg and 2.1 rpg in 17 mpg off the bench. However, he made the decision to return, solidifying the depth for next season.

There weren’t any other portal departures, including the young core of Jalen Washington, Zayden High, and former 5-star prospect, Elliott Cadeau. Although they did lose some big-name veterans, they bring back everyone else, including 20 ppg star and ACC Player of the Year guard, RJ Davis.

Add an incoming top-10 recruiting class that features a pair of five-star prospects (Drake Powell and Ian Jackson) and the Tar Heels are set to be a preseason top-10 team once again. They might have to add another frontcourt piece but this time, Coach Hubert Davis won’t have to scramble to fill out the roster.