The former Tar Heel disclosed some shocking truths.
The Richmond, Va. native said he had love for former Tar Heels and hometown heroes Ed Davis and Kenny Williams, but still pulled for Duke over UNC when the two rivals clashed twice a year on the hardwood.
“I had some allegiance to them because Ed Davis and Kenny Williams were from Richmond,” Bacot said. “But committing to Carolina was out of nowhere. I love Coach Davis, and I love Coach Williams, but it was tough for me to even rock with Carolina. I went to Carolina, and it was crazy. I hated Carolina. I was a diehard Duke fan. I hated Carolina.”
Pinson, a high school teammate with former Blue Devil Harry Giles, said he also grew up a Duke fan. The 2017 national champion was on a recruiting visit to the Smith Center when Austin Rivers hit the infamous game-winning shot over UNC in 2012 and left elated.
“I was a Duke fan, too,” Pinson said. “I was in the Smith Center getting recruited when Austin Rivers hit the game-winner. I’m a Duke fan. I’m lit. I was lit. I’m behind the bench. Coach Williams came to me after the game and said, ‘I wish you were out there, son.’ I went out in the parking lot with my dad, and I said, ‘Let’s go!’ At the time, I was still a Duke fan. It is what it is. I went to Carolina and got a natty.”
Unlike Bacot, Pinson said he never “hated” UNC and respected the Tar Heels due to their brand and Jordan Brand affiliation: “I was a Duke fan also, but I didn’t hate Carolina,” Pinson said. “I always respected them. I was like, ‘That’s a tough school. Jordan Brand.'”
Bacot responded: “No. I was a diehard Duke fan. I hated Carolina. They are going to tear me up for this, but I hated Carolina.”
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Bacot went 6-5 against Duke during his five seasons in Chapel Hill and played an integral role in the Tar Heels’ historic 2021-22 wins over the Blue Devils: Mike Krzyzewski’s final game at Cameron Indoor and a month later in the Final Four.
Carolina Basketball Scoop: Class of 2025 Snapshot
Where things stand with UNC’s 17 offers in the rising senior class.
This month, they’re expected to attend at least some of the following events (note we’re only highlighting when coaches will be able to attend):
- Adidas 3SSB Palmetto Road Championship (July 11-14) – Rock Hill, South Carolina
- Pro16 Finals (July 11-14) – Phoenix
- Pro16 Finals (July 19-21) – Indianapolis
- Nike EYBL Finals at the Peach Jam (July 11-14, 19-21) – North Augusta, South Carolina
- NCAA College Basketball Academy (July 23-25) – Rock Hill, South Carolina
- UAA Session III (July 11-14) – Cartersville, Georgia
- UAA Finals (July 19-21) – Bedford Park, Illinois
At one point, the Peach Jam was essentially a handful of days that culminated with a Sunday afternoon championship game. Now, it’s a sprawling, multi-weekend grind that covers the better part of two weeks and two evaluation periods.
The proximity of Nike and adidas, the two circuits in which the majority of North Carolina’s targets play, should aid the Carolina staff in getting on eyes on multiple players.
Heading into the July 2023 evaluation periods, the UNC staff was focused almost exclusively on class of 2025 players as it had wrapped up its 2024 group (Drake Powell, Ian Jackson, and James Brown). A year later, and the Carolina staff will again almost exclusively focus on class of 2025 players.
As of today, UNC has offers out to 17 players in the rising senior class, with more potentially coming. Considering the state of college basketball right now, it’s a little difficult to project anything of consequence moving forward. Still, we thought it was a good time to try.
After consulting with multiple sources – some familiar with UNC’s perspective and others who look at recruitments more broadly – we wanted to a provide a snapshot of where things seem to stand, today, between UNC and those 17 players offered in the rising senior class. Each recruitment is different, so we thought placing them in buckets might help readers visualize things a little better.
