North Carolina basketball snags instant-impact player via transfer portal

North Carolina picked up a big piece for 2024 on Thursday with the news that 6-foot-8 forward Ven-Allen Lubin decided to commit to the Tar Heels after some time in the transfer portal.

Lubin chose UNC over Mississippi State and SMU.

He averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season for Vanderbilt with notable games at the end of the season against Florida and Arkansas that saw him score 25 points with 11 rebounds and 21 points with 10 rebounds, respectively.

In his final nine games of 2023, he averaged 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest and racked up three double-doubles.

A former four-star recruit in the 2022 class, Lubin is expected to be an instant-impact player for the Tar Heels in 2024. Big man Armando Bacot ran out of eligibility, and thus UNC's all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles had to ride off into the sunset. North Carolina also lost forward Harrison Ingram to the NBA Draft.

Bringing in some front-court help was vital for head coach Hubert Davis, and Lubin certainly fits the bill.