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North Carolina basketball: Starting lineup options for next season

By Mike Phillips

CHESTNUT HILL, MA - MARCH 05: North Carolina Tar Heels forward Garrison Brooks (15) goes up for the slam dunk. During the North Carolina Tar Heels game against the Boston College Eagles on March 05, 2019 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA.(Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MA - MARCH 05: North Carolina Tar Heels forward Garrison Brooks (15) goes up for the slam dunk. During the North Carolina Tar Heels game against the Boston College Eagles on March 05, 2019 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA.(Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY – APRIL 05: Oak Hill Academy Warriors guard Cole Anthony (3) during the Geico National High School basketball tournament semifinal round game between the LaLumiere Lakers and Oak Hill Warriors on April 5, 2019 at Christ the King High School in Queens, NY (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY – APRIL 05: Oak Hill Academy Warriors guard Cole Anthony (3) during the Geico National High School basketball tournament semifinal round game between the LaLumiere Lakers and Oak Hill Warriors on April 5, 2019 at Christ the King High School in Queens, NY (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Best Case Scenario

  • Point Guard: Cole Anthony
  • Shooting Guard: Brandon Robinson
  • Small Forward: Garrison Brooks
  • Power Forward: Matthew Hurt
  • Center: Armando Bacot

Given how highly Coby White and Nassir Little are projected in mock drafts, it is highly unlikely either player will pull their name out of consideration, so it is pointless to waste time on a scenario where either guy is back. The good news is that this frees up some scholarships for Williams to use, and he can put them to excellent use in our best case scenario.

The dream target is point guard Cole Anthony, the second best player in the ESPN 100 rankings and the top unsigned recruit in the country. Anthony has North Carolina on his list of six schools, which also includes ACC rivals like Miami, Notre Dame, and Wake Forest, but White’s departure convinces him to come to Chapel Hill for immediate playing time on a contender.

Another scholarship would go to Matthew Hurt, a potential one-and-done player at the four. Hurt has both Duke and North Carolina on his very long list of schools, but this scenario sees him pull a stunner and pass on the Blue Devils to come play for the Tar Heels.

The Tar Heels already have their next center committed in Armando Bacot, who is a five-star big man, and returning guard Brandon Robinson takes Kenny Williams’ place in the starting lineup. Those four would team with Garrison Brooks, the lone returning starter from this year’s team, to form the nucleus of a title contender.