Heel Tough Blog: Ven-Allen Lubin Enters Transfer Portal, Plans to Return for 2025-26
- Joshua Marlow
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
In a surprising move, Ven-Allen Lubin has decided to enter the transfer portal, on the eve of the deadline, which comes tomorrow night at 11:59 PM. Lubin, who expressed his desire to return to UNC after the season ending loss to Ole Miss in the NCAA Tournament, was believed to be on his way back to Chapel Hill for his senior season, and according to Inside Carolina, had already agreed to financial terms, to affirm him commitment for 2025-26. But as this always seems to happen, there’s a last minute entry, and this year that happens to be Lubin.
Even though UNC has brought in Henri Veesaar and Jarin Stevenson out of the transfer portal, this is a significant loss for Hubert Davis, and the UNC frontcourt, after Lubin averaged 8.7 points, and 5.5 rebounds last season. Across the final 11 games of the season, Lubin averaged 13.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and shot 67% from the field, and 84% from the foul line.
Lubin though, did tweet this message out, "Before anybody jumps to the wrong conclusion, I am letting everyone know that I am entering the transfer portal with full intent on returning to UNC. My action relates to the complexities surrounding the possible approval of the pending NCAA settlement."
With another scholarship available, it’ll be interesting to see how UNC goes about filling its roster for next season, If Lubin doesn't return for his senior season. They have a trio of bigs, including the aforementioned Veesaar and Stevenson, along with rising sophomore James Brown. Zayden High is expected to be back with the program, after not being with the team last season, which would Carolina a quartet of bigs to utilize for next season. The belief was that Carolina was done pursing transfer, in light of Drake Powell making a decision about his future, but Lubin’s last minute portal entry may force the program to reconsider how they go about finalizing the roster for next season, which is pivotal to the longevity of Hubert Davis’s tenure as Carolina’s head coach.
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