What Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin brings to UNC basketball

Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin has committed to UNC basketball, Lubin announced Thursday in a social media post.

With Lubin’s commitment, head coach Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels have a veteran post presence to surround fifth-year senior RJ Davis and a slew of talented guards entering the 2024-25 season.

The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward started his career at Notre Dame before joining the Commodores. Lubin averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore under former Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse, who played for the Tar Heels in the 1990s.

Here’s a look at how Lubin helps the Tar Heels and what the frontcourt looks like with him patrolling the post.

How Ven Allen-Lubin can help replace Armando Bacot, Harrison Ingram

Armando Bacot is UNC’s all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles, and Harrison Ingram averaged 8.8 rebounds per game in his lone season for the Tar Heels.

With Bacot and Ingram gone, Lubin’s arrival can help the Heels stay among the nation’s defensive and rebounding leaders. Lubin, who has a 7-foot-1 wingspan, had five double-double performances across 26 games last season.

He missed six games because of a groin injury as a sophomore, but finished the year with a bang, averaging 23 points and 10.5 rebounds in the final two games of Vandy’s season.

UNC’s 2024-25 roster around Ven-Allen Lubin

Along with a wing — which UNC added in Belmont transfer Cade Tyson — the Tar Heels desperately needed to find a veteran presence in the post. They found that with Lubin, who will join junior Jalen Washington (3.9 points per game, 2.6 rebounds per game) and fifth-year senior Jae’Lyn Withers (4.2 ppg, 3.6 rbg) as the primary options in the frontcourt.

Lubin could end up being UNC’s fifth starter. UNC also welcomes a 2024 recruiting class that includes five-star recruits Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, making the Tar Heels one of the most talented teams in the nation.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin brings to UNC basketball