UNC basketball updated its roster for the 2024-25 season, officially signaling the start of a new year for the Tar Heels.

Coming off an ACC regular-season championship and an appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, UNC returns starting guards RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau in Hubert Davis’ fourth season as head coach.

The Heels have to replace three starters — Armando Bacot, Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan — and Zayden High is no longer enrolled at UNC. 

In addition to Cadeau and Davis, Jae’Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington are among the top returners. Ian Jackson, Drake Powell and James Brown are UNC’s freshmen, and the Heels added three players via the transfer portal: Belmont’s Cade Tyson, Vanderbilt’s Ven-Allen Lubin and Georgia Tech’s Tyzhaun Claude.

RJ DAVIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Here’s what stands out about the Tar Heels’ roster, including jersey numbers, height and weight.

Ian Jackson, Drake Powell, James Brown

UNC brings in the eighth-ranked recruiting class in 2024. Big man James Brown will rock the No. 2 jersey, with Drake Powell taking No. 9 and Ian Jackson set to don No. 11. Because of a change to NCAA rules ahead of the 2023-24 season, players are now allowed to wear Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 for the first time in decades.

Jae’Lyn Withers, Jalen Washington bulk up

Returning frontcourt players Jae’Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington are keeping their numbers, but both have bulked up. Withers went from 215 pounds to 220, and Washington went from 230 to 235 pounds. Both players are projected to be among the Tar Heels’ top defenders and rebounders.

UNC’S FRONTCOURT

Cade Tyson, Ven-Allen Lubin, Ty Claude

Cade Tyson will wear No. 5, Ven-Allen Lubin will don No. 22 and Ty Claude will rock No. 0 for the Tar Heels. Tyson and Lubin are potential starters, and Claude is projected to provide a rebounding boost off the bench.

Elliot Cadeau makes a change

Because of Ryan, Cadeau wore No. 2 last season. This year, Cadeau will return to his prep roots in the No. 3 jersey. The sophomore point guard is expected to be among the nation’s leaders in assists.

Elijah Davis, Hubert Davis’ son, joins UNC basketball

Son of head coach Hubert Davis, Elijah Davis joins the Tar Heels after transferring from Division III Lynchburg. The 6-foot-3 senior guard, who averaged 2.6 points and 7.3 minutes per game last season, will wear No. 6 at UNC.

Meet Russell Hawkins, John Holbrook

Russell Hawkins, who played on UNC’s JV team last season out of Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte, has been added to the varsity roster as a sophomore and will wear No. 14. John Holbrook, a freshman forward from Hickory, had offers from Washington & Lee and Roanoke before joining the Tar Heels. Holbrook will rock No. 15.

UNC basketball roster 2024-25

(Number, Name, Height, Weight, Year, Position) 

• 0 – Ty Claude, 6’7, 230, Gr., F

• 2 – James Brown, 6’10, 215, Fr., F

• 3 – Elliot Cadeau, 6’1, 180, So., G

• 4 – RJ Davis, 6’0, 180, Gr., G

• 5 – Cade Tyson, 6’7, 200, Jr., G/F

• 6 – Elijah Davis, 6’3, 215, Sr., G

• 7 – Seth Trimble, 6’3, 195, Jr., G

• 9 – Drake Powell, 6’6, 195, Fr., G/F

• 11 – Ian Jackson, 6’4, 190, Fr., G

• 13 – Jalen Washington, 6’10, 235, Jr., F

• 14 – Russell Hawkins, 6’1, 175, So., G

• 15 – John Holbrook, 6’8, 230, Fr., F

• 22 – Ven-Allen Lubin, 6’8, 230, Jr., F

• 24 – Jae’Lyn Withers, 6’9, 220, Gr., F

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball roster breakdown: Tar Heels’ lineup for 2024-25 season