Even though neither side made a return trip to the Sweet 16 in 2023, both the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams are featured in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings for the 2023-24 season.

The men’s team, despite being clouded by uncertainty around its roster makeup, charts at No. 19. R.J. Davis and Armando Bacot give the Tar Heels two returning starters, and reserve forward Jalen Washington has confirmed he will be back next season as well. But after that, things get murky. Seth Trimble and D’Marco Dunn have not yet entered the transfer portal, but have not confirmed their return next season either. Paxson Wojcik has committed to Carolina out of the portal, but UNC still has five open scholarship spots after a slew of portal entries and graduations. Simeon Wilcher and Zayden High, both four-star prospects according to 247 Sports, form Carolina’s two-man incoming freshman class.

The women’s team slots at No. 24. The Tar Heels aren’t dealing with quite as many departures as their counterparts in the Smith Center, but will have to replace starters Kennedy Todd-Williams and Eva Hodgson. Todd-Williams transferred to Ole Miss while Hodgson graduated. Destiny Adams also entered the portal, while Malu Tshitenge and Ariel Young are out of eligibility. Still, head coach Courtney Banghart returns first team All-ACC performers Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby and scored a big get in the transfer portal in Boston College’s Maria Gakdeng. A four-woman recruiting class will also arrive in the fall, including No. 4 overall prospect Ciera Toomey.

To view the full men’s rankings, click here. For the women’s rankings, click here.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

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