By R.L. Bynum
For North Carolina, the projected numbers tell a story that begins on the perimeter with Kyan Evans and includes plenty of production inside from Henri Veesaar, among others.
That’s according to the statistical projections of basketball analytics guru Evan Miyakawa (EvanMiya.com), who projects Evans, a 6–2 junior Colorado State transfer point guard, to rank No. 8 in the country in 3-point shooting percentage at 39.6%.
Combine that with a team-high free-throw percentage projection of 82.8%, and Evans figures to be a reliable option when the game slows down and every possession matters.
Evans is a career 44.6% shooter from outside the arc and 85.2% from the free throw line, with the ability to stretch defenses.
Coach Hubert Davis has emphasized that spacing will be necessary for the Tar Heels, and Evans will help provide that. His shooting forces defenders to extend beyond the arc, opening driving lanes and creating opportunities for teammates.
Veesaar, a 6–11 Arizona junior transfer center, looms as a significant force, according to Miyakawa’s projections. He is predicted to lead the team in scoring volume (points per 100 possessions) at 25.4, and projects to shoot a team-leading 67.7% inside the arc (he’s shot 66.9% for his career) but 31.1% from 3-point range (31.7% for his career).
His efficiency around the rim makes him a natural focal point in the half-court, forcing opponents to adjust. Veesaar’s presence will redefine UNC’s offensive balance after last season’s team lacked a true big man, allowing the Tar Heels to punish defenses inside and out.
Veesaar’s ability to finish at a high clip means UNC can generate easy points even when the pace slows.
Virginia Tech transfer Jaydon Young, a 6–4 junior guard, is projected to have the second-highest scoring volume (23.4), but it’s unclear how many minutes he’ll get per game.
Five-star freshman 6–10 forward Caleb Wilson (22.4) and junior Montenegrin newcomer Luka Bogavac (22.2), in no surprise, are next on the scoring volume projections, followed by 6–5 freshman guard Derek Dixon (22.1) and sophomore 6–10 center Zayden High (21.9).
Second behind Evans in projected 3-point shooting percentage is 6–3 senior guard Seth Trimble, 34.3% (29.8% for his career), followed by three newcomers at 34.1%: Wilson, Bogavac and Dixon.
Second behind Evans in projected free-throw percentage is Young (81.6%; 84.1% for his career), followed by Trimble (78.8%; 74.3% for his career) and Bogavac (73.9%).
While Alabama transfer Jarin Stevenson, a 6–10 junior, has a team-low scoring volume projection at 15.3 (even behind the walk-ons), he’s second in projected 2-point shooting percentage at 61.3.
Of course, projections aren’t guarantees. Shooting slumps happen, and post touches can be hard to come by against elite defenses; sometimes, players just don’t meet expectations.
That happened last season when Miyakawa projected Cade Tyson to shoot 41.3% from 3-point range, ranking him third in the country. After shooting 46.5% the previous season at Belmont, he only shot 29.2% at Carolina last season. He transferred to Minnesota in the offseason and scored 28 points and was 6 of 9 from outside the arc Thursday in an 80–54 exhibition win over North Dakota State.
The Tar Heels can only hope the good projections pan out this season.
Evan Miyakawa UNC player projections
| Player | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | SV* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henri Veesaar | 31.3 | 67.7 | 69.6 | 25.4 |
| Jaydon Young | 33.8 | 45.1 | 81.6 | 23.4 |
| Caleb Wilson | 34.1 | 48.6 | 74 | 22.4 |
| Luka Bogavac | 34.1 | 48.6 | 73.9 | 22.2 |
| Derek Dixon | 34.1 | 48.5 | 73.8 | 22.1 |
| Zayden High | 34 | 48.5 | 73.6 | 21.9 |
| Isaiah Denis | 34 | 48.4 | 73.6 | 21.8 |
| Kyan Evans | 39.7 | 49.3 | 82.8 | 20.7 |
| James Brown | 32.1 | 57 | 60.8 | 20.6 |
| Seth Trimble | 34.3 | 50.9 | 78.8 | 20.4 |
| Evan Smith | 33.1 | 47.1 | 70.4 | 18.7 |
| Ivan Matlekovic | 30.6 | 54.7 | 59.5 | 18.1 |
| Jonathan Powell | 33.5 | 49.3 | 72.7 | 17.4 |
| Elijah Davis | 33.3 | 45.2 | 72.7 | 17.4 |
| John Holbrook | 32 | 51.5 | 64.7 | 16.7 |
| Jarin Stevenson | 31.2 | 61.3 | 64.9 | 15.3 |
* — Scoring volume (points per 100 possessions); numbers for category leads in bold.
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| Date | Time/ scores | Month/day | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |||
| 9 | W, 88–70 | Friday | vs. No. 21 USC in Greensboro | |
| 18 | L, 76–58 | Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis | |
| 27 | W, 89–82, OT | Tuesday | vs. Charlotte | |
| November | Regular season | |||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Western Carolina | ACCN |
| 6 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Wofford | ACCN |
| 10 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming | ACCN |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Georgia | ESPN2 |
| 20 | 9 p.m. | Friday | vs. Marshall | ACCN |
| 23 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Monmouth | ACCN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Friday | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte | ESPN |
| December | ||||
| 1 | 7:30 | Tuesday | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 12 Arkansas | ESPN |
| 6 | 3 p.m. | Sunday | vs. Butler | ESPN2 |
| 12 | Noon | Saturday | at Georgetown | Peacock |
| 15 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro | ESPN2 |
| 19 | 2:30 | Saturday | CBS Sports Classic vs. No. 23 Kentucky in New York | CBS |
| 21 | 8 p.m. | Monday | vs. The Citadel | The CW |
| 30 | 4 p.m. | Wednesday | vs. California | ACCN |
| January | ||||
| 2 | 4 p.m. | Saturday | at Boston College | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 5 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at No. 11 Louisville | ESPN or ESPNU |
| 9 | Noon | Saturday | vs. N.C. State | ESPN2 |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Wednesday | at Florida State | ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| 16 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Stanford | The CW |
| 19 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. No. 9 Virginia | ESPN |
| 23 | Noon | Saturday | at Syracuse | ESPN or 2 or U |
| 26 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. SMU | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 30 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 3 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. | ESPN |
| February | ||||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | at Notre Dame | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Georgia Tech | The CW |
| 8 | 6 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 11 Louisville | ESPN |
| 13 | 5:30 | Saturday | at No. 2 Duke | ABC |
| 20 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 22 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 14 Miami | ESPN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Virginia Tech | ESPN |
| March | ||||
| 2 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at Pittsburgh | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | vs. No. 2 Duke | ESPN |
| 9–13 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament in Greensboro |
| No. | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Freshman | Maxi Adams | F | 6–7 | 220 |
| 30 | Freshman | Malloy Smith | G | 6–5 | 180 |
| 21 | Freshman | Sayon Keita (SIGH-on KAY-tuh) | C | 7–0 | 205 |
| 5 | Freshman | Kevin Thomas | W | 6–6 | 205 |
| 35 | Sophomore | Cade Bennerman — U | C | 7–0 | 205 |
| 17 | Sophomore | Neo Avdalas — W (NEE-oh ahv-DOLL-lus) | G | 6–9 | 220 |
| 2 | Sophomore | Isaiah Denis | G | 6–4 | 185 |
| 3 | Sophomore | Matt Able — X | G | 6–5 | 200 |
| 22 | Junior | Alex Samodurov (SAH-muh-DUHR-off) | C | 6–11 | 225 |
| 1 | Senior | Terrence Brown — Y | G | 6–3 | 180 |
| 4 | Senior | Jaydon Young (JAY-din) | G | 6–4 | 200 |
| 15 | Senior | Jarin Stevenson (JARE-in) | F | 6–10 | 220 |
| 14 | Graduate | Angelo Brizzi — Z (BRIZZ-ee) | G | 6–3 | 200 |
| 54 | Graduate | Cameron Fens — V (Fenz) | C | 7–0 | 255 |
| Walk-ons | |||||
| 99 | Junior | John Holbrook — SA | F | 6–8 | 230 |
| 32 | Senior | Evan Smith | G | 6–1 | 200 |
V — South Dakota transfer; U — Northwestern transfer; W — Virginia Tech transfer; X — N.C. State transfer; Y — Utah transfer; Z — Buffalo transfer; SA — Holbrook is a designated student-athlete, so he doesn’t count against UNC’s 15-player limit.
Coach Michael Malone’s coaching staff — Associate head coach Chuck Martin; assistant coaches Bryan Tibaldi (tih-BALL-dee), Sean May, Jorge Sanz (HOR-hey sahnth), Pat Sullivan and Brandon Robinson; Director of player development Deon Thompson.
Former players at other schools
| Player | Class | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Bogavac | Senior | W | 6–6 | 215 | Oklahoma State |
| James Brown | Senior | C | 6–10 | 240 | Howard |
| Derek Dixon | Sophomore | G | 6–5 | 200 | Arizona |
| Kyan Evans | Senior | G | 6–2 | 175 | Minnesota |
| Zayden High | Junior | C | 6–10 | 230 | South Florida |
| Jonathan Powell | Junior | G | 6–6 | 190 | Pittsburgh |
| Ivan Matlekovic | Junior | C | 7–0 | 255 | Pacific |
Photo by Joshua Lawton
