Count ESPN among the many outlets projecting big things for Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels next season. The outlet’s newest Way-Too-Early Top 25 poll, released Tuesday, had Carolina ranked as the No. 1 team in the country. ESPN’s previous poll had UNC ranked No. 5, but that was before the core of Armando Bacot, Caleb Love, R.J. Davis and Leaky Black announced their intentions to return to school. The only notable departure from this past season’s team is Brady Manek.

CBS Sports’ version of the Way-Too-Early poll also has the Tar Heels as its top team.

Rounding out the Top 5 in the ESPN poll are No. 2 Houston, No. 3 Kentucky, No. 4 UCLA and No. 5 Creighton. Duke ranks at No. 7, Virginia at No. 21 and Miami at No. 22.

Though the Tar Heels can’t rise any higher in the Way-Too-Early polls, the team still has the ability to add more talent to its roster. Following Kerwin Walton’s entry into the transfer portal, Hubert Davis has one extra scholarship available to a player from the transfer portal. Depending on which player earns that scholarship, Carolina has an excellent chance to be the preseason No. 1 team in the AP poll for the first time since the beginning of the 2015-16 season. The Tar Heels advanced all the way to the national championship game that season.

 

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
‹
Chansky's Notebook: Deja Blue?
You had to keep scrolling and scrolling on ESPN's Way-Too-Early Top 25 poll to find UNC, slotted in at No. 25.
ACC Returning to 18-Game Schedule for Men's Basketball Beginning in 2025-26 Season
The ACC announced it would be returning to an 18-game conference schedule model for men’s basketball Wednesday afternoon. The change will go into effect immediately. The league had been using a 20-game format since the 2019-20 season (with the exception of the 2020-21 season). “As a league, we have been transparent about the importance of […]
Chansky's Notebook: Time to Heal?
Speculation is rife that Zayden High will return to the UNC basketball program this coming season. That is premature.
UNC Men's Basketball to Face Ohio State in Atlanta For CBS Sports Classic
Another key non-conference date for UNC next season has been finalized. The Tar Heels will face Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on December 20. A tip-off time will be announced later, though UNC’s game is confirmed to be the first of the day’s doubleheader. Mark your calendars […]
Report: Zayden High Expected to Return to UNC Men's Basketball Team Next Season
Editor’s Note: An article from the Raleigh News & Observer published Thursday, May 1 reports High was suspended from the university in the fall of 2024 for sexual misconduct and exploitation. He has since re-enrolled. You can read that report in full here. Zayden High, who spent his freshman year with the UNC men’s basketball […]
Virginia Tech Transfer Jaydon Young Commits to UNC Men's Basketball
Jaydon Young, who spent the first two seasons of his career at Virginia Tech, committed to head coach Hubert Davis and UNC out of the transfer portal Friday. He will have two years of eligibility in Chapel Hill. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jaydon Young (@jaaaydonn3) A six-foot-four guard from Goldsboro, […]
Here's a List of Every Transfer to Join the UNC Men's Basketball Program This Offseason (2025)
Several transfers have announced their intentions to join head coach Hubert Davis and UNC next season. Here’s a list of those incoming players: Jaydon Young – Virginia Tech Young comes to the Tar Heels following two seasons at Virginia Tech in which he appeared in 58 games and started 10. His best run of play […]
Chansky's Notebook: Rolling the Dice
Like some UNC players who have tinkered with the NBA Draft in recent years, Drake Powell is far from a sure thing as a pro.
UNC's Drake Powell Declares for NBA Draft
UNC freshman wing Drake Powell has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. Powell made the announcement on his Instagram page Wednesday afternoon. View this post on Instagram A post shared by D R I Z Z Y (@drakepoww) While playing at Pittsboro’s Northwood High School, Powell became a five-star prospect across all major recruiting services. […]
Chansky's Notebook: Final Transfers
With the college basketball transfer portal closing tonight, Art Chansky digs into who UNC will add and potentially lose this offseason.
›