The 2024-25 UNC basketball season is in the books, and with that, it’s time for our player season reviews for the campaign.
We’re continuing our review with Ven-Allen Lubin, the Vanderbilt transfer who transitioned from backup center to a permanent fixture in North Carolina’s starting lineup.
The Tar Heels knew that filling the shoes of Armando Bacot would be a tough task. Bacot left UNC as the program’s all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles, production that can’t be replaced overnight.
North Carolina hoped that after he waited two seasons behind Bacot, Jalen Washington could produce starting caliber-numbers. Inconsistency led to Washington flip-flopping between the bench and starting lineup.
Ironically, Lubin started his first season in Chapel Hill coming off the bench. Hubert Davis gave Lubin a couple spot starts here and then, but turned to Lubin as the full-time starter come February.
Though he’s a bit undersized for a center at 6’8″, Lubin makes up for that with his aggressiveness and strong rebounding ability. Without Lubin last season, the Tar Heels don’t sneak into the NCAA Tournament.
2024-25 stats: 8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, 0.3 assists per game, 68.4 percent field goal shooting in 37 games (20 starts)
Season in Review
After UNC struggled against tougher competition during the non-conference portion of its schedule, head coach Hubert Davis knew something needed to change.
What better way to create a spark than mix up the starting lineup?
North Carolina lost its first game of 2025 at Louisville, but Lubin started to show his rebounding prowess by grabbing nine boards. Five games later in a 1-point loss to Stanford, Lubin scores in double-figures, a feat he accomplishes again in the Tar Heels’ 67-66 win over Pitt.
Lubin really started to shine during UNC’s blowout (97-73) victory against NC State in February, scoring 13 points. This started a streak of 11 consecutive games in double-figures for the Vanderbilt transfer, highlighted by double-doubles in each of North Carolina’s ACC Tournament games.
Though Lubin started his first year in Chapel Hill flip-flopping between the Tar Heels’ bench and their starting lineup, Lubin ended his junior campaign as the Tar Heels’ top rebounder.
Thanks to his late-season surge, Lubin will be a crucial part of UNC’s 2025-2026 roster. With 7-foot center Henri Veesaar’s arrival via the transfer portal, plus Caleb Wilson’s arrival as a Top-10 recruit and 6’9″ power forward, Lubin may revert back to a heightened bench role.
Historically, North Carolina opts to start experienced guys over freshman. I have a difficult time imagining that Wilson comes off the bench, though, while I know Veesaar will start.
Lubin hasn’t confirmed his plans to return, but the Tar Heels love him. I bet Lubin starts a few games early during UNC’s upcoming season, particularly as Hubert tries to discover his best rotations.
