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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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KNOXVILLE, TN – JANUARY 26: West Virginia Mountaineers guard James Bolden (3) drives to the basket and shoots over Tennessee Volunteers forward John Fulkerson (10) and guard Admiral Schofield (5) during a college basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and West Virginia Mountaineers on January 26, 2019, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – JANUARY 26: West Virginia Mountaineers guard James Bolden (3) drives to the basket and shoots over Tennessee Volunteers forward John Fulkerson (10) and guard Admiral Schofield (5) during a college basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and West Virginia Mountaineers on January 26, 2019, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Middle of the road scenario

  • Point Guard: James Bolden
  • Shooting Guard: Brandon Robinson
  • Small Forward: Garrison Brooks
  • Power Forward: Sterling Manley
  • Center: Armando Bacot

This scenario isn’t ideal for the Tar Heels, who would clearly be stunned that Anthony passed on them for a less prestigious school on his list. They could also make a play for R.J. Hampton, who may re-classify into the class of 2019, but the Tar Heels would be behind the eight ball on him with Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky already having offers on the table.

This would send Williams into the transfer market to look for some help, and one guy who could be a fit here is former West Virginia guard James Bolden. He averaged 12.2 points per game and 2.5 assists a night for the Mountaineers, is immediately eligible for next season as a grad transfer.

Adding an experienced point guard who can score at will would be huge for North Carolina if they plan to compete for a title next season. Losing Anthony would hurt the cause immensely, but Bolden’s experience would be an added bonus after losing three seniors from this year’s team.

Bolden would also be a solid mentor for incoming freshman Jeremiah Francis, a former top-100 prospect who slipped due to a knee injury in his senior year. Francis could learn behind Bolden for a year while playing a key role off the bench before moving into the starting lineup as a sophomore.