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Heel of an addition
North Carolina bolsters its frontcourt with Ven Allen-Lubin, and cements status as Top 10 team. Plus, which programs have the most spots to fill in the portal? And is there a former Pac-12 team capable of winning its new league?
Thursday was a monumental day in college athletics. We’re now giant step closer to athletes directly sharing in the billions of dollars of annual revenue.
Also, a quick scheduling note: The Daily will be back on Tuesday. Enjoy Memorial Day weekend!
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1. North Carolina’s crucial frontcourt transfer
Ven-Allen Lubin is one of the best players remaining in the transfer portal who currently isn’t going through the NBA Draft process, which made the Vanderbilt forward a hot commodity the last few weeks.
At the top of that list was North Carolina, which missed out on some recent big men, including Cliff Omoruyi and Jonas Aidoo. Third time was the charm for Hubert Davis.
Glory to the most high🙌🏾 Let’s get it Tar Heel Nation!!
@UNC_Basketball— Ven-Allen Lubin®️ (@LubinVen)
2:18 PM • May 23, 2024
After playing about 20 mpg as a freshman at Notre Dame, the 6-8 sophomore was a full-time starter this season at Vanderbilt, averaging 12.3 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Lubin shot 50% from the field and had nine games of at least 15 points, including a pair of 20 and 10 games to end the season against Florida and Arkansas.
The Heels needed him, too.
Armando Bacot is gone. Harrison Ingram reportedly is staying in the draft, which left UNC with role players Jae'lyn Withers, Jalen Washington, and Zayden High up front, along with incoming 4-star center James Brown. They might not be done when it comes to post players, either.
Lubin played the five-spot for most of the time at Vanderbilt and can do the same at North Carolina if needed. UNC has one remaining roster spot and has been rumored to be in the mix for former Kentucky center Ugonna Onyenso.
If Lubin is the main post presence, that would give the Heels a likely starting lineup of RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau, freshman Ian Jackson, transfer Cade Tyson and Lubin. That’d be enough to be a Top 10 team. But is it a title team?
2. Power conferences agree to revenue sharing model
It’s official. The NCAA will settle three pending antitrust lawsuits, meaning schools will directly (legally) pay players for the first time in college sports history.
NCAA & Autonomy Conferences Statement on House Settlement: on.ncaa.com/statement
— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR)
12:30 AM • May 24, 2024
It’ll amount to more than $2.7 billion in damages over 10 years to past and current athletes, dating back to 2016. The sides also reportedly agreed to a revenue-sharing plan that’ll generate up to $20 million per year with athletes. That will likely start in 2025.
The specifics will get ironed out over the next 18-24 months. There’s also another lawsuit, Fontenot v. NCAA, that is being decided outside of this settlement, which could add further damages for plaintiffs.
Thursday also had other potential landmines.