The 2023-24 college basketball season is less than a week away, but reforms and major developments are already underway across the country. Other than losing a few pieces to the portal, North Carolina was pretty quiet early in the long offseason. With next year's Tar Heels roster still largely uncertain, Hubert Davis and his staff have begun contacting several players around the country who are looking for new ground.
The latest news from the transfer portal carousel with North Carolina State terms contacting Oregon State guard Jordan Pope. The 6-foot sophomore was the Beavers' leading scorer, averaging 17.6 ppg on 45 percent from the field. Pope was also one of the Pac-12's top scorers with 66 3-pointers, a 37% success rate.
Pope, who entered the transfer portal on April 2, has already heard from a long list of schools, many of them high-level schools like the University of North Carolina.
News: Since entering the transfer portal, Jordan Pope has heard from:
Cal
miami
florida
baylor
texas
Texas A&M
Kansas
Xavier
illinois
michigan
Louisville
UNC
arizona
villanovaPope averaged 17.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. @AthleticCBB pic.twitter.com/4zouEu7TgW
— Tobias Bass (@tobias_bass) April 11, 2024
RJ Davis' decision will start a huge domino effect that will ultimately determine how heavily some of these transfer guards are pursued. That said, losing Seth Trimble leaves a spot in the backcourt, and Jordan Pope could be a great addition to fill that void.
Most of the activity initially focused on replacing Armando Bacot. Unsurprisingly, the Tar Heels have had contact with a number of big names in recent weeks and haven't focused much on guards. If RJ Davis decides to move on, North Carolina State will need a score-first ball handler, and it looks like they're already trying to get ahead of that curve.
Jordan Pope has two years of eligibility and will be an impact player wherever he ends up.