Heel Tough Blog: UNC Among Those Showing Interest in Accomplished Mid-Major Forward

College of Charleston Athletics

The Tar Heels are set to host multiple transfer after the dead period ends later this week, but that’s not stopping Hubert Davis, and new GM Jim Tanner from expressing interest in other players in the transfer portal. Carolina has already landed one forward in Jonathan Powell, from West Virginia, and are the favorites to land another in Kanon Catcings from BYU, who will be on campus this weekend, but that’s not stopping this coaching staff from showing interest in others, as they have contacted Charleston transfer, Ante Brzovic, who has heard from plenty of power conference programs since entering the transfer portal. 

Brzovic is coming off a big 2024-25 season, where he averaged 18.4 points per game, to go along with 8.1 rebounds, on 54% shooting from the field, and 32% shooting from behind the arc. Brzovic stands at 6-10 and weighs 230 pounds, fitting the criteria for what Hubert Davis has been looking for when adding talent out of the portal, size, size, and even more size. He has played in 103 career games, with 87 starts, and for his career, he’s averaged 13.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, on 50% shooting from the field, and 28% shooting from deep. He has earned plenty of All-Conference honors, including being named to the All-CAA team twice, and was a member of the 2023 All-CAA Conference Tournament team. 

The interest in Brzovic may come a little bit by surprise, considering the program is expected to welcome back Ven-Allen Lubin, who has expressed his desire to return after a strong finish last season. Maybe this interest is a sign of a philosophical switch by Hubert Davis and his staff, to play more like the program did under Roy Williams, as opposed to the modern approach, where floor spacing has been at the forefront. It’s also unclear the status of Zayden High, and if he’ll rejoin the team or not, after missing the entire 2024-25 campaign. And then there’s the fact that rosters are expanding and Carolina has more roster spots available, so you might as well put as much talent on the roster as you possibly can. 

While there will always be concerns when UNC dips down to the mid-major level, the fact that every major power conference has multiple teams showing interest in him, makes you believe that he can make that adjustment, no matter what conference he ends up in. For Carolina’s sake, let’s just hope that if he doesn’t wind up in Chapel Hill, he stays out of the ACC altogether. 

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