Mycampusplug
UNC Basketball’s Latest Move: Hubert Davis Shakes Up Transfer Landscape with Bold Decision
Hubert Davis, the head coach of UNC basketball for three years, ventured into hostile territory on Thursday in an attempt to sign Adou Thiero, a two-year player from Kentucky who stands six feet seven inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. Thiero’s athletic potential and long legs have attracted a lot of attention since he entered the transfer portal a month ago.
The Wildcat supporters took notice of Davis when he met with Thiero at a Lexington steakhouse close to school, bringing along assistant coaches Jeff Lebo and Sean May. Naturally. Several of their photos started to circulate on social media:
It goes without saying that the Tar Heels must have known they would draw a ton of curious spectators by going into the center of a fellow blueblood’s territory, moving from the John Calipari era into Mark Pope mania, and bringing in a talented recruit from Kentucky who hasn’t officially ruled out returning to Big Blue Nation.
Indeed, Davis & Co. made a bold move. If the endeavor is ultimately worthwhile, only time will tell.
Thiero hasn’t officially ruled out any of the schools on his rumored list, which includes the Tar Heels, Panthers, and Wildcats in addition to Arkansas (Calipari’s new home) and Indiana, even though some believe the contest will come down to UNC and Pitt.
In 21.4 minutes per game as a sophomore under coach Calipari, Thiero, 19, averaged 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks for the Wildcats last season.
Despite their best efforts to add a few more pieces to a 2024–25 UNC basketball team that is poised to rank among the top five in the preseason, Hubert Davis and his group have not yet succeeded in their transfer pursuits this offseason.
About a dozen names have been contacted through the transfer site, and some of them have been hosted in Chapel Hill. They’ve even appeared to be the clear winner once or twice according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball and conversations on social media.
It’s probably just a matter of time until Davis and the 2024–25 Tar Heels receive the commitment of a top target with genuine championship hopes.
Maybe it will be Adou Thiero shortly.
