-
Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer
North Carolina picked up a much-needed frontcourt player Thursday, with Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin announcing his commitment to the Tar Heels.
Lubin was one of the best big men left on the board after he opted to leave Vanderbilt and enter the transfer portal shortly before the May 1 deadline.
The 6-foot-8 forward had a breakout campaign with the Commodores, averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. He played his best basketball late in the season, finishing with 25 points and 11 rebounds against Florida and 21 points and 10 rebounds against Arkansas.
Over his final nine games, Lubin averaged 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds — including three double-doubles.
Lubin, who spent one season at Notre Dame before transferring to Vanderbilt, should make an immediate impact in Chapel Hill. Hubert Davis’ team is losing longtime frontcourt stalwart Armando Bacot and all-conference forward Harrison Ingram, leaving Jae’Lyn Withers (4.2 PPG) and Jalen Washington (3.9 PPG) as the top returnees up front.
North Carolina has pursued a long list of big men in the portal, missing on the likes of Oumar Ballo, Clifford Omoruyi and Jonas Aidoo over the past several weeks. The Tar Heels have also been linked to Illinois transfer Coleman Hawkins, who is going through the NBA draft process.
The Tar Heels are ranked No. 9 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25, while Lubin is ranked No. 68 among ESPN’s top 100 transfers.