Former Tar Heel Compares Lloyd to Roy Williams' Roster Construction

During an appearance on "The Field of 68" podcast, former North Carolina forward Justin Jackson drew comparisons between Arizona's current roster and how the Tar Heels have historically been constructed.

Jackson's Thoughts

• "I haven't seen him really say no," Jackson explained. "You can talk about names, you can talk about a list of coaches, but when I look at this Arizona team, it looks exactly like the North Carolina teams under Roy Williams. You look at the size, the offensive rebounding, the points in the paint, and great point guard play. Then, you have wings that are long and athletic, who can play defense and shoot from the outside. It looks so similar to those teams."

• "Now, would he be able to replicate that at North Carolina? Who knows," Jackson continued. "But that, for me, is what's so intriguing. This team that he has reminds me so much of those teams that had a whole lot of success, and is what people are wanting North Carolina to return to when it comes to the success level."

Does This Make Sense?

Under Hubert Davis, North Carolina's roster was similarly constructed, especially this past season. The Tar Heels were anchored by a frontcourt tandem consisting of Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson, who were complemented by Jarin Stevenson, Seth Trimble, and Derek Dixon.

Now, Trimble and Wilson were not consistent three-point shooters, and the original plan was for Kyan Evans to run the offense alongside Trimble, but that quickly fizzled out, as the Colorado State transfer never made the impact the coaching staff envisioned.

North Carolina will look drastically different next season, with Trimble graduating, Wilson departing for the draft, and Veesaar potentially following suit. The 6-foot-11, 224-pound center, who played under Lloyd for two seasons at Arizona, has yet to officially declare for the 2026 NBA Draft.

All that being said, Jackson discussed how North Carolina has valued elite guard play, wing scoring, defense, and offensive rebounding. Next season, the Tar Heels' roster is tantalizing, with Dixon and Dylan Mingo forming a dangerous one-two punch in the backcourt, while adding forward Maximo Adams in the recruitment pool in addition to Mingo.

That doesn't even include Stevenson, Bogavac, and Veesaar, who could all return to Chapel Hill.

It may be a tumultuous time right now in North Carolina, but with the right hire and the retention of the names mentioned above, excluding Wilson and Evans, the Tar Heels could be a formidable team in 2026.