By R.L. Bynum
Armando Bacot, who said he made “$2-million-plus” at UNC, made a startling admission during an appearance this week on Theo Pinson’s “Run Your Race” podcast: He grew up a Duke fan and hated Carolina.
“I’ll never admit it, but I’ll admit it now: I grew up a Duke fan — hated Carolina,” Bacot said on the podcast. “Even committing to Carolina for me, it was like out of nowhere because, even throughout the process, I visited, I loved Coach [Hubert] Davis. I loved Coach [Roy] Williams, but it was tough for me, just even rockin’ with Carolina.”
When Pinson interjected that he also grew up a Duke fan but didn’t hate the Tar Heels, Bacot doubled down.
“I was a diehard Duke fan, so I hated Carolina,” said Bacot, who has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz.
He obviously grew to love UNC, where he became the program’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,715), offensive rebounds (593) and double-doubles (87) while scoring 2,347 points, the second most in Carolina history.
Bacot said there is evidence of his former Duke fandom on Facebook from his younger days and that he attended the Duke basketball camp. He said the fact that Richmond-area products Ed Davis and Kenny Williams went to UNC helped his view of the Tar Heels.
Regarding his NIL earnings, Bacot said it was crazy.
“I had no clue. I didn’t know what I was doing because you go from [a stipend] to being a millionaire that fast. It was crazy,” he said.
Bacot credited the tradition of the UNC program for being able to make that much money.
“That speaks on a brand of Carolina,” Bacot said. “You go to Carolina, you handle business, you go out there and play, somewhat be marketable and stuff like that? They pay. I can never say a bad word about Carolina because I got life-changing money in college just while playing basketball. That’s why I’m forever thankful for the Carolina brand. To be able to make over $2 million, just in college is crazy.”
You can listen to the entire podcast episode here or above.
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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