UNC Basketball Summer Preview: Jae’Lyn Withers

The athletic wing could be in line for a bigger role.

Although Coach Davis has done a nice job of revamping the roster, Carolina lost some important veteran pieces from last year’s squad. Armando Bacot and Cormac Ryan exhausted their eligibility while Harrison Ingram declared for the NBA draft. Given that all three started, contributed greatly, and served as leaders for the team, the Heels will need other guys to step up and assume similar roles. Obviously RJ Davis, who we’ve already talked about, will once again be the backbone, but he’ll need some help. That is where Jae’Lyn Withers enters.

The Heels will need Withers to bring energy and leadership this season.

Withers is the only other senior on the roster and is a familiar face with plenty of experience. While earning a starting spot will be tough given the Heels’ talent, he’s sure to see an expanded role this upcoming season. This team will need him to bring energy and leadership in order to be successful.

Down the stretch in the Heels’ sweet sixteen loss to Alabama, Withers had a tough sequence in which he missed a three and then gave up an and-one on the other end to surrender the lead. It was a sour ending for a guy who had established himself as a catalyst coming off the bench, making big-time plays throughout the season, including during the NCAA tournament. It’s fair to criticize Withers’ decision as it likely wasn’t what they drew up, but you can’t put the blame on him.

Withers had a tough sequence in the Heels’ sweet sixteen loss to Alabama.

That game was characterized by Nate Oates’ ability to hone in on RJ Davis and force other players to beat them. Given Davis was having an uncharacteristically poor shooting performance, it honestly would’ve been poetic for Withers to make Oates pay for sagging off with a dagger three. Instead, the ball hit back iron as the rest of the Heels simply watched, and he suffered a double whammy for being the only one to get back on defense. My point here is that Carolina was ultimately out-coached, and if you want to ask why Withers took that shot, you should also ask why a guy who shot 42% from three the year prior (40-96) was only able to attempt 20 of them the entire season.

RJ Davis will need help from Withers and others this season.

Withers averaged 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game this past year. He shot 53.5% from the field and 78% from the free throw line. Withers struggled to find his footing early on but eventually became a critical part of the lineup. He added some necessary bounce, making electric plays around the rim on both ends. His high motor and disruptiveness on the defensive side often provided a spark for the team.

Withers provides a unique combination of length and athleticism.

There was clearly an adjustment for Withers, who played a much bigger role when he was at Louisville. Once he settled into his spot in the rotation, he was a natural fit for this team, specifically playing alongside a playmaker like Elliot Cadeau. Withers is a constant lob candidate when he gets free, and who better to find him at the rim than Cadeau? Both players bring exciting abilities to the table and have the potential to reach greater heights together this upcoming year.

Cadeau and Withers have the potential to reach greater heights together this upcoming year.

In terms of earning more playing time, Withers has his work cut out for him, but I believe he’ll ultimately be one of the most important players on this team. He provides a unique combination of length and athleticism and should see more freedom offensively given the Heels’ departures. Regardless, I’m excited to see Withers back in Chapel Hill for what figures to be another thrilling season of Carolina hoops.