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UNC basketball updated its roster for the 2024-25 season, officially signaling the start of a new year for the Tar Heels.Ìý

Coming off an ACC regular-season championship and an appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, UNC returns starting guards RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau in Hubert DavisÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™ fourth season as head coach.Ìý

The Heels have to replace three starters ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ” Armando Bacot, Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ” and Zayden High is no longer enrolled at UNC.Ìý

In addition to Cadeau and Davis, JaeÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington are among the top returners. Ian Jackson, Drake Powell and James Brown are UNCÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s freshmen, and the Heels added three players via the transfer portal: BelmontÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s Cade Tyson, VanderbiltÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s Ven-Allen Lubin and Georgia TechÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s Tyzhaun Claude.Ìý

HereÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s what stands out about the Tar HeelsÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™ roster, including jersey numbers, height and weight.Ìý

Ian Jackson, Drake Powell, James BrownÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ

UNC brings in the eighth-ranked recruiting class in 2024. Big man James Brown will rock the No. 2 jersey, with Drake Powell taking No. 9 and Ian Jackson set to don No. 11. Because of a change to NCAA rules ahead of the 2023-24 season, players are now allowed to wear Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 for the first time in decades.

JaeÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™Lyn Withers, Jalen Washington bulk upÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ

Returning frontcourt players JaeÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington are keeping their numbers, but both have bulked up. Withers went from 215 pounds to 220, and Washington went from 230 to 235 pounds. Both players are projected to be among the Tar HeelsÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™ top defenders and rebounders.

Cade Tyson, Ven-Allen Lubin, Ty ClaudeÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ

Cade Tyson will wear No. 5, Ven-Allen Lubin will don No. 22 and Ty Claude will rock No. 0 for the Tar Heels. Tyson and Lubin are potential starters, and Claude is projected to provide a rebounding boost off the bench.Ìý

Elliot Cadeau makes a changeÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ

Because of Ryan, Cadeau wore No. 2 last season. This year, Cadeau will return to his prep roots in the No. 3 jersey. The sophomore point guard is expected to be among the nationÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s leaders in assists.Ìý

Elijah Davis, Hubert DavisÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™ son, joins UNC basketballÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ

Son of head coach Hubert Davis, Elijah Davis joins the Tar Heels after transferring from Division III Lynchburg. The 6-foot-3 senior guard, who averaged 2.6 points and 7.3 minutes per game last season, will wear No. 6 at UNC.Ìý

Meet Russell Hawkins, John HolbrookÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ

Russell Hawkins, who played on UNCÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™s JV team last season out of Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte, has been added to the varsity roster as a sophomore and will wear No. 14. John Holbrook, a freshman forward from Hickory, had offers from Washington & Lee and Roanoke before joining the Tar Heels. Holbrook will rock No. 15.Ìý

UNC basketball roster 2024-25

(Number, Name, Height, Weight, Year, Position)ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ

• 0 - Ty Claude, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™7, 230, Gr., F
• 2 - James Brown, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™10, 215, Fr., F
• 3 - Elliot Cadeau, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™1, 180, So., G
• 4 - RJ Davis, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™0, 180, Gr., G
• 5 - Cade Tyson, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™7, 200, Jr., G/F
• 6 - Elijah Davis, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™3, 215, Sr., G
• 7 - Seth Trimble, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™3, 195, Jr., G
• 9 - Drake Powell, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™6, 195, Fr., G/F
• 11 - Ian Jackson, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™4, 190, Fr., G
• 13 - Jalen Washington, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™10, 235, Jr., F
• 14 - Russell Hawkins, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™1, 175, So., G
• 15 - John Holbrook, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™8, 230, Fr., F
• 22 - Ven-Allen Lubin, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™8, 230, Jr., F
• 24 - JaeÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™Lyn Withers, 6ÖгöÉÙ¸¾ÊÓƵ™9, 220, Gr., F

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached atrbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.