The conversation around North Carolina’s frontcourt has taken a decisive turn as analysts Andrew Jones and David Sisk break down the team’s rotation heading into the upcoming campaign.
The Centerpiece: Sayon Keita’s Role
At the heart of the discussion is Sayon Keita, the Tar Heels’ newly designated center, whose size, mobility and defensive instincts give the coaching staff a reliable anchor in the paint.
Behind Keita, the power forward position remains unsettified, with three candidates — Jarin Stevenson, Alexandros Samodurov and Maximo Adams — each vying to earn a larger role.
Stevenson brings a high‑energy, rebounding‑first approach, while Samodurov offers a versatile skill set that can stretch the floor, and Adams combines physicality with a developing post game.
Coaches are expected to lean on Keita’s consistency while experimenting with lineups that can maximize the complementary strengths of the power forward contenders, a strategy that could shape the team’s depth chart as the season progresses.