North Carolina has included another player to its 2024-25 team with a commitment from a forward from Vanderbilt, Ven Allen Lubin. The 6-8, 230-pound freshman revealed his decision on Thursday, over a week after visiting Chapel Hill officially.
Lubin is the Tar Heels’ second transfer commitment this off-season, following the sharpshooter from Belmont, Late Tyson, who committed on April 28. With Armando Bacot leaving and Harrison Ingram announcing his NBA plans, most of the Tar Heels’ frontcourt production is expected to come from Jae’Lyn Withers (4.2 points, 3.6 rebounds) and Jalen Washington (3.9 points, 2.6 rebounds), emphasizing the necessity for additional talent through the transfer portal.
Last season, Lubin, who played as a center for Vanderbilt, averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds, putting up impressive performances such as 25 points and 11 rebounds against Florida, followed by 21 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals against Arkansas.
“His strengths lie in his effectiveness near the basket, his rebounding skills, athleticism, and his ability to create mismatches,” stated Treig Burke, Lubin’s coach at Orlando (Fla.) Christian Prep (and coach to former Tar Heel Nas Little). “These attributes led to his success at Vanderbilt – his relentless nature and consistent high productivity.”
“The UNC coaching staff expressed the need for a player like him with two years of SEC experience and a proven track record of success. They believed his background and accomplishments would greatly benefit their team.”
Vanderbilt’s coach, Jerry Stackhouse, a Tar Heel icon, was dismissed after the season. Lubin entered the transfer portal on May 1, the final day of the spring transfer window. A few days later, North Carolina’s coaches reached out to him. Besides UNC, Lubin received interest from Mississippi State, SMU, and other schools.
Lubin achieved a season-high 33.3 percent shooting accuracy from three-point range, sinking three shots throughout the season, including a 2-for-5 performance against Florida and two three-pointers against Tennessee in the previous month.
“We aim to capitalize when opponents underestimate him,” Stackhouse commented during the season. “We create opportunities for him because he shoots well from the perimeter, but we also want to utilize his inside presence. He excels as a post player, possesses good passing ability, and can finish strongly when faced with double teams, displaying a soft touch around the basket.”
It marked Lubin’s second appearance on the collegiate scene, having started his journey at Notre Dame (where he overlapped with the late Tar Heel Cormac Ryan), contributing 6.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in seven games during the 2022-23 season. Last summer, Lubin earned a spot on the USA U19 national team, averaging 5.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in a squad that secured fourth place at the FIBA World Cup in Hungary. Regarded as the 12th top prospect nationally and the 74th overall prospect by the 247Sports Composite in the 2022 class, Lubin earned recognition coming out of high school.
In what specific ways does Lubin’s commitment enhance the frontcourt depth and versatility of the Tar Heels basketball team under Head Coach Hubert Davis?
-director of the travel team Team Knight). ”Ven is a hard worker and a great teammate who will bring energy and toughness to the Tar Heels’ frontcourt.”
Lubin’s commitment adds depth to North Carolina’s frontcourt and provides Head Coach Hubert Davis with another versatile option in the paint. With his scoring ability and rebounding prowess, Lubin has the potential to make an immediate impact for the Tar Heels in the upcoming season. His addition, along with Late Tyson’s shooting prowess, strengthens North Carolina’s roster and bolsters their chances of contending in the ACC and beyond.
