The 2024-25 UNC men's basketball season started with plenty of promise, but ended in more NCAA Tournament disappointment.
North Carolina landed highly-coveted recruits Drake Powell and Ian Jackson, plus Elliot Cadeau returned for his sophomore season. RJ Davis stayed in Chapel Hill, giving the Tar Heels a dangerous backcourt on paper.
One crucial piece of that 2024-25 roster, Ven-Allen Lubin, eventually took over at UNC's full-time starting center. Lubin transferred to rival NC State after one season and, thanks to a recent injunction against the NCAA, will play for the Wolfpack against this coming season.
Lubin thrived during his senior campaign in Raleigh, starting all 34 games for NC State, while averaging career-highs of 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. After the Wolfpack smacked North Carolina in February, 82-58, Lubin mocked Caleb Wilson with his own version of a bedazzled belt.
Karma set in for State after that blowout win. The Wolfpack lost five of their next six games, squeaking into NCAA Tournament after being included in numerous projections heading into February.
NEWS: NC State forward Ven-Allen Lubin is withdrawing his name from the transfer portal and is returning to NC State for a fifth year of eligibility, he told @On3.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) August 15, 2026
The 6-9 senior averaged 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game this past season.https://t.co/PUWdw1uQgapic.twitter.com/ToceHfh2xB
Lubin was an undersized center at UNC, standing at 6'9". The Tar Heels originally rolled with 6'10" Jalen Washington, but inconsistency relegated him to the bench.
North Carolina re-vamped its frontcourt last season, with Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar forming one of the court's best duos. UNC enters 2026-27 with another solid post presence, thanks to additions like Cameron Fens and Sayon Keita.
The Tar Heels will face NC State in a "non-conference" matchup this December, then host State in the 2027 portion of their schedule. Will there be fireworks between North Carolina and their old center?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Former UNC center returning to ACC rival for fifth year