Cameron Johnson is Cleared to Play
by Derrick Clyburn
Cameron Johnson has been fully released to transfer by Pittsburgh and is cleared to play in 2017-18 for North Carolina. I admire how determined Johnson was in this process of playing for the Tar heels. It really could have gotten ugly, but Pittsburgh did the right thing in allowing Johnson to move forward with basketball and his academic career in graduate school.
The Possible Tar Heel Line Ups
Roy Williams will have plenty of options with this years line up. Johnson will play the small forward position, taking Justin Jackson’s spot. The odd man out of the starting line up looks like Kenny Williams, who is recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out of the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. There will be a plethora of guard and wing players for Roy to substitute in and out this basketball season, with Williams, Woods, Felton, and Robinson. The perimeter play will be the strong suit for this years team. Maybe, one of the best 3-Point shooting teams in recent years.
Starting Line Up #1
Berry – PG, Pinson – SG, Johnson – SF, Maye – PF and Huffman -C:
This line up would give Roy the closest starting five to his traditional set. Many pundits feel that Coach Williams will go small-ball, since Meeks, Hicks, and Bradley are gone. But I think Roy is stubborn to the traditional 2 big-man set. I believe that Huffman will be the freshman big man to start along side these experienced players. He rebounds well, and plays aggressive and tough around the basket. The work that Huffman is putting in with Rasheed Wallace should give him the confidence needed to beat out Brooks and Manley for the Center spot.
Starting Line Up #2
Berry – PG, Williams – SG, Pinson – SF Johnson – PF , Maye – C:
This line up would be small in the post, but strong on the perimeter. This would be a great outside shooting team, and an excellent defensive, trapping team, Rebounding would take a hit against bigger opponents, but this team would really spread the floor and allow driving lanes to take defenders off the dribble.
Final Thoughts
This is going to be an exciting season to watch these players develop and gel together for a deep run in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. This team will be deep and talented, but a little inexperienced in the post, but by mid-season Roy should have this team clicking on all cylinders. Berry and Pinson will be the senior leaders and will be responsible for building team chemistry.
I expect to see the “sophomore jump” as they say for Seventh Woods. He will be pushed by the freshman talent Jalek Felton for playing time at the point guard position and off the ball. Luke Maye will be counted on to help bring the freshman big men up to speed. He needs to let his work ethic speak for him.
Wouldn’t it be sweet for this Tar Heel team to be in its third Final Four in three consecutive years.
Share your thoughts
I think Luke Maye will struggle like crazy playing center. Maybe not so much on offense, but more so on the defensive end.
Hopefully Roy won’t go small ball, but for small stretches, depending on the game situation. I think one of the freshmen big men will step up, so that Maye won’t have to play Center. Huffman and Brooks should push for time on the floor early on. Roy will give them their opportunities to contribute.
Adding Johnson makes this even more of a solid line up. We’ll have some adjusting to do based on who’s no longer on the team. But we’ll be fine.
This team won’t depend so much on the big men early on, but hopefully Huffman, Brooks and Manley will get up to speed by mid-season. The perimeter will carry the team for the most part.