Armando Bacot returning to UNC for senior season

North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot is staying in school. Mitchell Leff-USA TODAY Sports

North Carolina big man Armando Bacot returning to Tar Heels for senior season

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 4/13/22

The national-runner-up North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team will have its leading scorer and rebounder back for the 2022-2023 season.

Tar Heel forever ❤️ pic.twitter.com/lBbbrb0hTT
— Armando Bacot Jr. (@iget_buckets35) April 13, 2022

"I'm back." pic.twitter.com/LooDQ3pVyc
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) April 13, 2022

College basketball insiders Jeff Goodman and Jon Rothstein noted the impact of last year's Supreme Court decision, granting compensation rights to college athletes through their name, image and likeness (NIL).

Armando Bacot's decision to return to school is a prime example of why NIL -- which was long overdue -- should ultimately make college sports better.

Productive players can now return to college and make money if they're not first-round picks instead of playing professionally. https://t.co/KDES4hu3i6
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 13, 2022

Some of these players choosing between staying in school and turning pro will make significantly more money through NIL.

It can be a game-changer for guys like Armando Bacot, Hunter Dickinson, Kofi Cockburn, Oscar Tshiebwe.

Guys that aren’t projected as first-rounders.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 13, 2022

During his third season with the program, Bacot led the Tar Heels in points (16.3), rebounds (13.1) and blocks per game (1.7), while shooting a team-high 56.9% from the field as well. Bacot played and started in all 39 games for UNC and earned First-Team All-ACC and Second-Team All-ACC Tournament honors, while being named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.

He led the entire conference in rebounds per game as well as a host of other statistical categories and led No. 8 North Carolina on a Cinderella run to the national championship game, where the Heels fell to No. 1 Kansas.

More must-reads: