North Carolina signed a much-needed offensive player on Thursday, with Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin announcing his commitment to the Tar Heels.
Lubin was one of the best big men left on the board after he opted to leave Vanderbilt and enter the transfer portal shortly before the May 1 deadline.
The 6-foot-8 forward had a breakout season with the Commodores, averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. He played his best basketball late in the season, finishing with 25 points and 11 rebounds against Florida and 21 points and 10 rebounds against Arkansas.
In his last nine games, Lubin averaged 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds, including three double-doubles.
Lubin, who spent one season at Notre Dame before transferring to Vanderbilt, should make an immediate impact in Chapel Hill. Hubert Davis' team is losing frontcourt stalwart Armando Bacot and all-conference forward Harrison Ingram, leaving Jae'Lyn Withers (4.2 ppg) and Jalen Washington (3.9 ppg) ) as the main ones returned to the front.
North Carolina has chased a long list of big men in the portal, missing players like Oumar Ballo, Clifford Omoruyi and Jonas Aidoo in recent weeks. The Tar Heels have also been linked to Illinois transfer Coleman Hawkins, who is going through the NBA draft process.
The Tar Heels are ranked No. 9 on ESPN's Too Early Top 25, while Lubin is ranked No. 68 on ESPN's Top 100 transfers.
