By R.L. Bynum
Carolina will reportedly have two fifth-year players next season.
Jon Rothstein of CBS reports that Jae’Lyn Withers will return to the Tar Heels for his fifth college season. The Charlotte native transferred to Carolina last offseason after three seasons at Louisville.
Withers would join RJ Davis to give UNC two fifth-year players for next season.
Withers, an athletic 6–8, 230-pound forward, often brought huge energy to games last season. Withers was third on the team in blocks with 18, and his plus/minus of +168 was the highest among non-starters.
Withers scored 156 points in 37 games, including three starts last season, putting up a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in UNC’s victory over Wagner in the first round of the NCAA tournament. He also registered a double-double against his former team, Louisville, with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Withers redshirted for the 2019–10 season, his first at Louisville, then averaged 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in three seasons for the Cardinals before transferring to UNC last summer. He earned a degree in exercise science from Louisville in 2023.
Key events, dates
Saturday, April 27, was the deadline for players to submit their names to the NBA draft
May 1 was the deadline for players to enter the transfer portal
Last weekend on Saturday and Sunday — NBA G League Elite Camp in Chicago
Began Sunday, runs through next Sunday — NBA Combine in Chicago
May 17–19 — Evaluation for high school players at NCAA-certified events (EYBL in Indianapolis is one of those)
May 29 at 11:59 p.m. — Deadline to withdraw from NBA draft and maintain college eligibility
June 16 at 5 p.m. — Deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft
UNC schedule so far
Nov. 4 — vs. Elon
Nov. 8 — at Kansas (final AP rank No. 20; final NET ranking No. 19)
Nov. 22 — at Hawaii (final NET ranking No. 172)
Nov. 25–27 — Maui Invitational — Auburn (final AP rank No. 18; final NET ranking No. 5), Colorado (unranked; No. 25), Connecticut (No. 1; No. 2), Dayton (No. 24; No. 23), Iowa State (No. 8; No. 6), Memphis (unranked; No. 75), Michigan State (unranked; No. 24)
Dec. 14 — vs. La Salle (final NET ranking No. 195)
Likely in late November — Opponent TBA in ACC/SEC Challenge
December — vs. UCLA (final NET ranking No. 107) in CBS Sports Classic (date, location TBA)
December — vs. Florida (final NET ranking No. 29) in Jumpman Invitational at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center (date TBA)
— Games home and away against Duke, N.C. State and Pittsburgh
— Home games vs. Boston College, California, Georgia Tech, Miami, SMU, Stanford and Virginia
— Road games vs. Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest
Note: 2024 NCAA tournament teams are in bold.
2024-25 UNC roster so far
| No. | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Freshman | James Brown (4 star) | 5 | 6–8 | 225 |
| — | Freshman | Ian Jackson (5 star) | 2 | 6–4 | 180 |
| — | Freshman | Drake Powell (5 star) | 2 | 6–5 | 185 |
| 3 | Soph. | Elliot Cadeau | PG | 6–1 | 180 |
| 1 | Soph. | Zayden High | 4 | 6–9 | 225 |
| — | Junior | Cade Tyson | 3 | 6–7 | 203 |
| 13 | Junior | Jalen Washington | 5 | 6–10 | 230 |
| 0 | Junior | Seth Trimble | 2 | 6–3 | 195 |
| 5 | Graduate | RJ Davis | PG | 6–0 | 180 |
| 24 | Graduate | Jae’Lyn Withers | 4 | 6–9 | 215 |
Photo via @UNC_Basketball
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