As if Saturday night’s Duke-Carolina game didn’t have high enough stakes, now the contest will feature two players fighting for possession of one of college basketball’s top positional honors.

The Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 10-player watch list for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Friday afternoon, which is given to the best center in college basketball. UNC’s star big man Armando Bacot is one of the ten names included on the list.

Bacot is currently averaging 16.5 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game, the only player in the ACC to average a double-double. His 12.6 rebounds per game rank third in the country, behind only Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe and Utah Valley’s Fardaws Aimaq. Bacot’s 17 double-doubles are tied with Aimaq for most in the country. Bacot has also improved his shot-blocking, ranking sixth in the ACC with 1.7 per game. He’s recorded at least two blocks in each of his last three games, including six against NC State, which tied a career-high.

Bacot would be the first Tar Heel to ever win the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which has been given out since the 2014-15 season.

Several other names on the watch list should ring a bell for Carolina fans. Duke’s Mark Williams, who will be matched up with Bacot down low on Saturday night, is also featured. The seven-foot, one-inch Williams leads the ACC in blocks with 3.2 per game, which ranks 11th in the country. Walker Kessler, who transferred from Carolina to Auburn following the 2020-21 season, also appears on the list. Kessler has turned into a superstar with the Tigers, blocking more than four shots per game this season.

In addition, three centers appear on the list who have already faced off against the Tar Heels this season: Tshiebwe, Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson and Purdue’s Zach Edey.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Men's Basketball vs. Michigan State (2025): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
Carolina will play its second and final game at the Fort Myers Tip-Off Thursday afternoon when the Tar Heels face No. 11 Michigan State. UNC is seeking to avenge an overtime loss to the Spartans at the Maui Invitational last season. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along […]
UNC Men's Basketball Beats St. Bonaventure in Opening Game of Fort Myers Tip-Off
UNC scored 50 points in the second half and got a career-best performance from center Henri Veesaar in an 85-70 win against St. Bonaventure in the first game of the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Florida Tuesday night. HEELS WIN.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/PRULVL21Rl — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) November 26, 2025 Veesaar scored a career-high 24 points […]
Chansky's Notebook: Off to Fort Myers
UNC last met St. Bonaventure in the 1968 Sweet Sixteen, and Art Chansky was there to take in an amazing atmosphere.
UNC Men's Basketball vs. St. Bonaventure (2025): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC will play its first official game outside of Chapel Hill Tuesday when it faces St. Bonaventure in Fort Myers, FL Tuesday evening. The game is the first of two Carolina will play as part of the Fort Myers Tip-Off. If you aren’t headed down to Florida with the team, here’s how you can follow […]
Chansky's Notebook: Not 'Just a Guy'
Caleb Wilson is leading UNC in more ways than one. The fabulous freshman is outstripping his preseason predictions, which were pretty high.
UNC Men's Basketball vs. Navy (2025): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC is back in action at the Smith Center Tuesday night when the Tar Heels host Navy. A win against the Midshipmen would move Carolina to 5-0 on the season, tying its best start in five seasons under head coach Hubert Davis. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow […]
Caleb Wilson Shines As UNC Men's Basketball Stuffs North Carolina Central
Freshman star Caleb Wilson recorded his second consecutive double-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four blocks to help Carolina dispatch North Carolina Central 97-53 Friday night at the Smith Center. HEELS WIN.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/6MUdJderdT — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) November 15, 2025 Wilson scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the […]
4-Star Recruit Maximo Adams Commits to UNC Men's Basketball, Hubert Davis
Maximo Adams, who 247 Sports rates as a four-star recruit and the No. 24 overall player in his class, committed to UNC Friday.
Chansky's Notebook: Long Legacy
Art Chansky reviews the rich basketball history of North Carolina Central before the Eagles visit the Dean Smith Center tonight.
UNC Men's Basketball vs. NC Central (2025): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
Carolina is back in action late Friday night when the Tar Heels host North Carolina Central at the Smith Center. UNC is looking to move to 4-0 on the young season. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen on the […]
›