Art Chansky’s Sports Notebook is presented by The Casual Pint. YOUR place for delicious pub food paired with local beer. Choose among 35 rotating taps and 200+ beers in the cooler.

Paxson Wojcik, hopefully, is just the first piece of Hubert Davis’ plan.

Carolina fans who noticed that Caleb Love entered the transfer portal the same day Wojcik committed to play his fifth college season with the Tar Heels should not see it as an even trade.

That would not be fair to Wojcik, who has always considered Carolina his “dream school” since his dad, Doug, was a popular member of Matt Doherty’s coaching staff.

Wojcik was a 3-star prospect out of high school (Love was a ballyhooed 5-star) and had modest stats in his two seasons at Loyola Chicago and his last two at Brown. He should be regarded as only one piece of the roster puzzle Davis is putting together after losing eight players from the 2022-23 team.

A 6-5 guard whose stats have improved steadily through his college career, Wojcik may help fill a need for smart, tough players who can shoot. In his true senior year at Brown, he averaged 14.9 points and 7.2 rebounds (remember, it’s the Ivy League), plus 3.2 assists and shot 38 percent from the arc.

But Davis has other holes to fill while awaiting the end of the college season, which may produce more transfer portal players after the Final Four. UNC needs to replace the leadership of Leaky Black, Pete Nance and Love in the locker room, so newcomers may come from all levels of college ball.

No matter who else is added, the core of the 2023-24 team will be returnees Armando Bacot and R.J. Davis, who have announced their intentions, plus rising junior D’Marco Dunn and sophomores Jalen Washington and Seth Trimble, all 4-star recruits who have yet to make a consistent impact in college.

One element that is still missing is what Hubert refers to as “dudes,” physical players who go hard to the basket and boards and are slap-the-floor defenders. Incoming freshmen Zayden High and Simeon Wilcher could help.

There’s a kid from Villanova and one from Notre Dame who haven’t entered the portal but are rumored to be headed there. Plus, one from Northern Colorado and one from Towson who have shown interest.

Clearly, the Tar Heels’ next roster has to be filled with more new guys if they want to return to their postseason place in college basketball.

Washington and Dunn will be given the chance to earn starting spots and Trimble is already penciled in as the back-up point guard in a lineup that may use three perimeter players more often.

So let’s welcome Wojcik to his dream school, but also be realistic about his role as a smart, heady player who can make the 3 ball consistently, all needed.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

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