As one of the faces of a UNC men’s basketball program undergoing a major transition, junior forward Armando Bacot has understandably drawn a lot of media attention this year. That likely won’t change in coming weeks, as Bacot was named to the Naismith Award Watch List Monday morning. The Naismith Award honors the National Player of the Year in men’s college basketball.

Bacot is the only Tar Heel to make the list of 50 players, but is joined by several peers from the ACC. Buddy Boeheim from Syracuse, Keve Aluma from Virginia Tech and Paolo Banchero from Duke are also on the list.

Bacot and teammate Dawson Garcia drew additional accolades Tuesday, with both players named to the Wooden Award Watch List. The Wooden Award is another honor given to the national player of the year.

As a sophomore in the 2020-21 season, Bacot averaged 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, while improving his free throw percentage and turnover numbers. His field goal percentage saw the most drastic change, jumping from 46.9 percent his freshman season to 62.8 percent in 2020-21.

Head coach Hubert Davis and the rest of the Tar Heels clearly expect big things from Bacot, as he was named one of three team captains ahead of Carolina’s exhibition game against Elizabeth City State. Bacot started the exhibition and finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. He also made his only three-point attempt.

Three Tar Heels have won the Naismith Award: Michael Jordan in 1984, Antawn Jamison in 1998 and Tyler Hansbrough in 2008. All those players also won the Wooden Award that same year, with Phil Ford also winning the Wooden Award in 1978. Bacot and Garcia will look to join that exclusive club when Carolina’s regular season gets underway Tuesday night against Loyola.

To view the full Naismith Award Watch List, click here. To view the full Wooden Award Watch List, click here.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
'I'm Attacking This Job': Michael Malone Introduces Himself to the Carolina Family
The next chapter in the long history of UNC men’s basketball began at 6 p.m. on the dot Tuesday night at the Dean Smith Center.
UNC Men's Basketball to Hire NBA Champion Michael Malone as Next Head Coach
The UNC men’s basketball program has hired former NBA head coach Michael Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship, to the same position in Chapel Hill. ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news Monday afternoon shortly before 2 p.m., with Inside Carolina confirming similar reports minutes later. The program then confirmed the […]
Chansky's Notebook: They Like Mike
When looking closer at the next UNC head men's basketball coach, there are a few factors which likely contributed to his candidacy.
Tracking Which UNC Men's Basketball Players Have Entered the 2026 Transfer Portal
The NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal opened Tuesday, April 7, the day after the national championship game. Following UNC head coach Hubert Davis’ dismissal on March 24, several Tar Heels have entered their names into the portal and pursue other opportunities. Here’s a list of which players have either made announcements or are reported to […]
Derek Dixon Shares Plan to Enter Transfer Portal, Open to Return to UNC
Despite the reported news of UNC men’s basketball selecting its next head coach on Monday, freshman point guard Derek Dixon share he plans to enter the transfer portal when possible on Tuesday. Dixon made the announcement on social media just a few hours after reports leaked of Carolina Athletics planning to hire former Denver Nuggets […]
Chansky's Notebook: Firm Foundation
Thanks to the very strong foundation at UNC, coaches don’t need to be talked into the idea that they can win there.
UNC Guard Isaiah Denis Entering Transfer Portal, But Open to Returning to Chapel Hill
UNC guard Isaiah Denis, who spent his freshman season as part of the 2025-26 Tar Heels, announced Sunday he will be entering the transfer portal when it opens Tuesday, April 7. Denis made the announcement on his Instagram page. View this post on Instagram Denis arrived at Chapel Hill as a four-star prospect from Davidson […]
Chansky's Notebook: Credentials
While Tommy Lloyd appears to be UNC’s top choice for its next men’s basketball coach, Billy Donovan isn’t exactly the worst backup option.
Chansky's Notebook: Déjà Blue
For the second straight year, a Duke-UNC game served as an omen for the end of the Blue Devils’ season in the NCAA Tournament.
A Brief History of UNC Men's Basketball Head Coaching Searches
As we near the one-week mark of the UNC men’s basketball head coaching vacancy, rumors continue to swirl about the Tar Heels’ potential targets. If leading candidates are any indication, the next head coach will not come from the “Carolina Family,” breaking a streak that began with Dean Smith. Since Smith, each UNC head coach […]
›