Bacot Commits to UNC
By Tommy Ashley
North Carolina’s relentless pursuit of Armando Bacot paid off. The 2019 forward announced his commitment to Roy Williams and the Tar Heels on Thursday.
Bacot, who joins point guard Jeremiah Francis as UNC commitments in the senior class, is the No. 26 overall player in the nation according to the 247 Sports Composite. He picked the Tar Heels over offers from Duke, Georgia, Kansas, Miami, N.C. State, Oklahoma State, Villanova, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and VCU.
“Coach (Williams) would always visit me and he kept his word — he said he would be the coach that talked to (and watched) me the most, and in high school and AAU he did that, so that made a huge difference,” Bacot said of his decision to become a Tar Heel. “I know he wouldn’t just be doing that if he didn’t really want me or felt so strong about me. … My parents felt the most comfortable with UNC, too.”
In September 2016, Bacot took his first unofficial visit to UNC, playing pickup with the Tar Heels squad that would go on to win a national championship. He was back in Chapel Hill for UNC’s win over Virginia on Feb. 18, 2017. Over the next 18 months, Williams and assistants Hubert Davis, Brad Frederick, and Steve Robinson, followed Bacot around the country with both his high school and travel teams. From Spartanburg, S.C., to Ontario, Canada, to Richmond, Va., to Las Vegas, to Dallas, and Indianapolis – if Bacot was playing during an evaluation period, UNC was there watching. His last known school visit was an unofficial trip to UNC on April 24.
During the April evaluation period, Bacot switched grassroots teams, going from Adidas-backed Team Loaded to Nike-based Team Takeover on the EYBL circuit. After a transition period that saw Bacot play below his normal standards, he had a tremendous July. En route to an EYBL title at the Peach Jam, Bacot averaged 11.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, and was named the event’s Most Valuable Player.
“UNC is a good fit for Bacot,” explained Evan Daniels, the National Recruiting Director for 247Sports. “He’s a guy they keyed on early on and he fits into their system and style and how Roy Williams likes to use his post players.
“Bacot definitely opened up my eyes in July, especially watching him with Team Takeover — not only at the Peach Jam helping them get the title, but also in Las Vegas against a Compton Magic team with a deep frontcourt. I thought he really established himself as an elite rebounder. He doesn’t have all the prototypical physical tools to lead you to believe that, but he pursues the ball, is consistent with his effort — competes, shows his motor — boxes out, and uses the strength that he has to play physical inside to really rebound. Rebounding is something that translates to all levels and that is one of his biggest strengths.
The 6-10, 240-pound forward has transferred from Richmond (Va.) Trinity Episcopal to Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy for his senior season. Two of his teammates at IMG – Josh Green and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl – hold UNC scholarship offers.