Chansky's Notebook: Clock Ticking

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The transfer window is closing, but there are options.

The biggest lingering news around UNC basketball is whether high school junior Elliot Cadeau will reclassify and sign with Carolina to play during the 2023-24 season and how that will affect several returning Tar Heels.

There is apparently no deadline for Cadeau, a 5-star point guard, to reclassify as long as he does it before the fall semester at UNC begins. For example, the 19-year-old Cadeau could reclassify to enroll in summer school for the first session by May 17, the second session by June 26 or the fall term by August 20. Generally, most players attend the second summer session.

It appears unlikely that Cadeau will complete the reclassification process by May 11, which is the last day athletes can enter their names into the controversial NCAA transfer portal. So what are Hubert Davis and particularly returning guards D’Marco Dunn and Seth Trimble planning?

Should the verbally committed Cadeau sign a national letter of intent (NLI) to join the program a year earlier than expected, he will be projected to start or at least play a lot of minutes as a freshman, or why reclassify? And with rising senior returning starter R.J. Davis playing at least 34 minutes per game the last two seasons, how much time would be left for Dunn and Trimble?

And there is also 6-4, 4-star combo guard Simeon Wilcher coming in as a true freshman who will make the backcourt more crowded for someone playing both guard positions. Wilcher might also have options if Cadeau reclassified. He could ask UNC for a release to the scholarship he signed, much like Mackenzie Mgbako did at Duke once Kyle Filipowski decided to return.

Davis is a fair and honest coach in the mold of Dean Smith and Roy Williams. So, he is likely talking to rising sophomore Trimble and rising junior Dunn about options, so they won’t be compromised if Cadeau were to reclassify. Hubert may be telling those two to do what is in their best interests.

One option would be for Dunn and Trimble to enter the portal today or tomorrow to protect their playing time should Cadeau join the team. Since there is no deadline for portaled players to pick a new school before the fall semester, either or both could always return to UNC.

Or they would be free to visit other schools and create choices. Of course, if they both chose to transfer and Cadeau doesn’t reclass, Carolina would lose some potentially valuable backcourt depth. The portal clock is ticking, and right now we don’t know what any of the three are going to do.

Stay tuned.

Featured image via Inside Carolina/Jim Hawkins

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Chansky’s Notebook: Clock Ticking

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