UNC and Hubert Davis linked to star SF target if he pulls out of the NBA Draft
So, you're saying there's a chance? We don't want to go after North Carolina basketball head man Hubert Davis too hard, but to say this offseason hasn't gone to plan would be an understatement. Could someone like Jamir Watkins change the outlook for 2025-26, though?
Watkins is currently prepping for the NBA Draft, as the sharpshooter is hoping to improve his stock. However, the latest projections have him as a second-rounder, which would open the door for him to return to college hoops for one more campaign.
While it's up in the air if he pulls himself out of the draft or not, similar to what Boogie Fland just did, there's speculation growing that teams will reach out to him ASAP if he does. North Carolina is already being mentioned as a possible landing spot, with a new piece from 247Sports bringing up the Tar Heels.
Per that 247Sports piece from Grant Hughes, national writer Isaac Trotter brought up UNC as a program that would 'make sense' for Watkins if he does return to the college game for next campaign. Obviously, this would be a dream addition this late in the process for the staff.
It's not news that North Carolina has swung and missed on several top wing targets. We hate to bring up bad memories, but Andrej Stojakovic choosing Illinois over the Tar Heels and Stanford still stings. Some new names have been brought up, including Ivan Kharchenkov, a 6-6, 220-pounder who plays for Bayern Munich in Germany.
Kharchenkov feels like the top option, but if Watkins does become available, people all over the state are going to be calling for Davis to go all-in to land him. He's ranked five stars, the No. 2 small forward and the No. 7 player overall in the portal this cycle per the 247Sports rankings. Last season for Florida State, he averaged 18.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
A lot is going to need to happen for this Watkins buzz to really pick up some steam. First, we'll need to see what he decides in terms of staying in the draft or not. Then, if he does pull out, we'll have to wait to find out if Davis indeed would make a serious run at him. Things are unclear overall, but goodness, somehow bringing in Watkins would be a program-altering move for UNC.