The North Carolina Tar Heels completely revamped their roster, with the majority of last season’s personnel departing the program this offseason.
Upon arrival, head coach Michael Malone has established himself as a legitimate recruiter, as multiple players cited him as a major influence in their decision to take their talents to Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels flipped their identity, emphasizing the importance of establishing a versatile backcourt. With that in mind, here is where North Carolina’s backcourt ranks in the ACC.
1. Duke
This will be a common theme for the Blue Devils in 2026. They will be viewed as the best in several categories, including coaching and roster, and could be ranked the No. 1 team in the country entering the upcoming season. Duke has no weaknesses on paper, and this backcourt is truly elite.
Not only did the Blue Devils retain Cayden Boozer and Caleb Foster, but they landed 5-star guard Deron Rippey Jr. and signed Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell. Foster has always been a steady asset in the backcourt, and Boozer took a major leap when the veteran guard suffered a foot injury against North Carolina. In the five games without Foster, Boozer averaged 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, Blackwell averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists last season, while shooting 43.0 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three-point range. Rippey Jr. is an obvious elite talent, the No. 13 overall prospect in this year’s class per the 247Sports Composite.
2. Louisville
The Cardinals are in a similar spot to the Tar Heels, as their roster is predominantly made up of transfer portal acquisitions. Louisville’s backcourt was a revolving door, losing Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell, and Isaac McKneely. Pat Kelsey turned around and added Jackson Shelstad, Karter Knox, and Seth Trimble, while retaining Adrian Wooley…