The North Carolina Tar Heels, the reigning ACC basketball regular-season champions, will not have sophomore forward Zayden High for the upcoming season. UNC announced on Tuesday that High is not enrolled in school and will not play for the Tar Heels in 2024-25.
Isaac Schade of Locked On Tar Heels provided more information on the situation. Schade said that sources have told him that High is not in school. UNC started classes on August 19 due to an off-court issue, though Schade iterated that there is no indication that High has gotten into legal trouble. Schade added that the current plan is for High to redshirt and re-enroll in school in February, though he added that plans could change.
UNC Sophomore Forward To Redshirt In 2024-25: What Does That Mean for Tar Heels Going Forward?
High, a consensus top-75 recruit in 2023, saw sparse playing time last year. The four-star forward compiled 18 points and 26 rebounds with a shooting splits of 31.6/00.0/66.7 in 103 minutes in 23 appearances.
While trying not to speculate the reason that High is not with the Tar Heels at this point, it is noteworthy that the 6-9 forward did participate in the Tar Heels offseason workouts all summer.
“It’s been difficult,” High told Inside Carolina in late July. “I’ve been in the gym, I’ve been working. Kind of been trying to stay low, keep my head down. It all starts in practice. Everybody says the way you practice is the way you play. It really is that way. So going into every practice, I’m just trying to stay locked in and I try to do the small things. Harrison (Ingram) was a big key factor for us last year in rebounding the ball. So this year, I’m trying to really take it serious, rebounding the ball and getting to the glass every time. Just doing the little things because we’ve got guys that can score the ball. We’ve got plenty of guys that can score the ball, so I’m just trying to do all the small things, the winning plays.”
If High does return to UNC next semester, he is not expected to participate in basketball activities until after the season. If the situation remains as Schade stated, then High will return to the Tar Heels in 2025-26 and have three years remaining.
Projecting Tar Heels 2024-25 Rotation
High’s departure leaves UNC a little shorthanded for the upcoming season. The Tar Heels currently have 11 players on scholarship plus three walk-ons. More significantly, they are much smaller, with just five players 6-8 or taller, including freshman walk-on John Holbrook.
High was projected to have a more significant role this year. The Tar Heels lost Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram following the season to graduation and the NBA draft, respectively. The Rockwell (Texas) native was slated to battle Jae’lyn Withers, Tyzhaun Claude, and possibly incoming freshman James Brown, a four-star recruit, for playing time.
UNC, 78-31 under fourth-year head coach Hubert Davis, should still be competitive in a revamped ACC. 2023-24 All-American RJ Davis decided to return and will be paired with sophomore Elliot Cadeau to form one of the more formidable backcourts in the conference.
Davis brought in transfers Ven Allen-Lubin, Cade Tyson, and Tyzhaun Claude. According to 247Sports, the Tar Heels have the No. 5 incoming recruiting class, with Ian Jackson, Drake Powell, and Brown.
Davis used an eight-player rotation last season. He could use a nine-man rotation this season.
Projected Starting Unit
RJ Davis, Elliott Cadeau, Ian Jackson, Ven-Allen Lubin, Jalen Washington.
Rotation
Drake Powell, Jae’lynn Withers, Seth Trimble, Cade Tyson.
Other Reserves
Tyzhaun Claude, James Brown
