This year, UNC will field a junior varsity men’s basketball team for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The JV team had been a campus staple up until then, but it had not competed the last two seasons due to the pandemic.

Now, the men’s basketball program is hosting an interest meeting for those hoping to try out for the JV team in 2022-23. The varsity program’s Director of Player Personnel Jackie Manuel will serve as the team’s head coach. Recent coaches of the JV team include several current members of the varsity coaching staff, including assistant coach Brad Frederick and current head coach Hubert Davis. Prior to Davis’ hiring as the varsity head coach, his position with the JV team had been his only head coaching experience at any level.

The JV team has also served as a springboard for future members of the varsity team. Recent reserves such as Robbie O’Han, Kane Ma and Jackson Watkins all started on the JV team before being added to the varsity roster.

The position with the JV team will be Manuel’s first head coaching position of any kind. Before working with the men’s basketball program, Manuel served as the Director of Player Personnel with Courtney Banghart and the women’s basketball program. He has also been an assistant coach at UNC-Wilmington, Valparaiso and UNC-Greensboro.

The interest meeting for the JV team will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 1 in the stands of the Dean Smith Center, through Entrance D.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Grant Halverson

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