By R.L. Bynum
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Zayden High began the season as a reserve who could spell the starters for a few possessions, but often wasn’t effective during those short chances he got.
During his two starts while Henri Veesaar was out, he played well but was more of a serviceable replacement. That shifted dramatically with his performance in No. 16 North Carolina’s 77–64 victory Saturday over Syracuse.
High isn’t just filling time. He’s filled a role.
“Zayden was huge again for us tonight,” said Coach Hubert Davis, noting that High made lots of good plays. The one that really got his attention, though, was when High dove for a loose ball, calling it the type of play that wins games.
High, who scored nine points in 19 minutes, said the loose-ball sequence Davis highlighted wasn’t anything extraordinary in his mind.
“That’s just effort,” High said. “That’s just wanting it more. I saw the ball on the floor, and I just went to go get it. That’s something I can control every single night.”
For High, the play wasn’t about numbers or recognition. It was about doing the little things that earn trust and keep him on the floor. As his role grows, those hustle moments have become just as important as the points and rebounds showing up in the box score.
Earlier in the season, High’s minutes often came in the margins. Now they come with responsibility.
Davis even paired him with Veesaar, giving UNC a two-center look that has been a tradition in Carolina basketball for decades, but Davis hadn’t used this season.
“We were able to preserve our size in the front court, as opposed to going small, with the exception of late in the game. I’m really proud of him,” Davis said
High admitted that the biggest difference isn’t the scheme or the matchup.
“I think my teammates and my coaches are trusting me a lot more, so I just feel a lot more comfortable,” High said.
Earlier in the year, that trust felt fragile. He knew he’d only be in the game for a short time and sometimes put pressure on himself to make it count.
“I feel like going in there, I was thinking too much about making a mistake, than just going out there and playing,” High said. “But now I go out there and play free.”
His mindset has changed along with his role. Instead of trying not to mess up, he now focuses on bringing energy.
“I feel like on Tuesday, that’s something we were missing, the energy aspect of the game,” High said. “So, I just want to come in off the bench, get some energy and set the tone.”
That energy has been visible under the boards, where he pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds.
For High, the confidence has also come from understanding what the team needs from him.
“My team needed me to step up, [and that’s] what I did,” he said. “I’m thankful for my coaches me, and my teammates trusting me. I’m glad to have Henri back. He’s such a big part of our team.”
The transformation isn’t flashy but built on loose balls, rim runs and rebounds in traffic. For a team tightening its rotation and sharpening its edge, High has gone from a serviceable reserve to a reliable contributor whose minutes now matter as much as any reserve.
