The Last Rebound: Armando Bacot’s Unforgettable Journey at UNC

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –– The legacy of Armando Bacot will forever be etched in the hearts of Tar Heel fans, and Carolina basketball.

Through his unwavering commitment to his craft, the Chapel Hill community, and the game of basketball, Bacot has left an indelible mark. It’ll be strange seeing him don Beale Street blue, steel gray and gold instead of the Carolina blue that has been his staple for the past five years.

Bacot capped off his final game at Dean Dome in a starkly different manner than his usual slam dunks. He shot his first multi-three game of his career making both to mark shots, his final basket at the Smith Center. It was a moment that ignited a fire within the stands, and as I looked around I saw some clapping and some wiping their eyes as they bore witness to the dwindling moments of Bacot’s career.

Soon after the four video boards that sit at each corner of the arena dawned the words “Thank You Armando.” The immediate roar of the crowd complemented the message as some idealistic chants of ‘one more year’ filled up the arena. There was no better way to bid farewell to him and the other seniors during the program’s Senior Night.

To his surprise, Armando had a few of his own tears to wipe away during postgame interviews as he was swarmed by a group of reporters who were eager to hear his first words after the team ran away with a 84-51 victory over the visiting Fighting Irish before heading into NCAA tournament play.

I held my phone mic close, as I had done so many times before that moment and listened intently as he said, “I may not have been the best player that ever played here. I may not have scored the most points. I did grab the most rebounds. I may not have blocked the most shots. But I think in terms of players, nobody has loved this school more than I have. And that’s something I can be proud of.”

While he closed out his career at Dean Dome with a mere 14 points and just five rebounds, his overall resume makes him one of the most decorated players not just at Carolina or in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but in the enticing sport that is college basketball.

After 169 collegiate basketball games, and 168 starts it’s clear there will never be another Armando Bacot. He is all-time leading rebounder (1,715) and double-doubles (87) at UNC. He is in ninth-place for rebounds in NCAA history. He scored 2,347 points for the Tar Heels, marking second most behind former player and current ACC all-time leader Tyler Hansbrough. He’s secured more boards than any player in college basketball since 1964, has led the ACC in double-doubles multiple times and led UNC to the 2022 NCAA national championship game. The accolades continue, but if I listed them all, it might turn into a novel.

He was there for so many consequential moments in the program’s recent years. As head coach Hubert Davis’ hallmark slogan would describe it, “there are sunny days, and rainy days.” And Bacot’s career indeed experienced its fair share of both.

Armando’s five years withstood its changes from being a freshman on arguably Roy Williams’ worst team in 2019, to declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft and keeping his collegiate eligibility just days after Williams announced his retirement.

He returned as a junior and sent rival coach Coach K into retirement the following year and defeated the Blue Devils twice in the regular season. He even contributed 15 points and rebounds during UNC’s loss to Kansas in the national championship.
His incredible offensive skills, ability to score at will and consistent double-digit boards had already cemented him in the history books—and given him enduring respect from the fans and the Chapel Hill community. But things took a turn, his senior year when the Tar Heels became the first preseason No.1 to miss the NCAA tournament. He faced the brunt of the criticism and opted to return last season – helping lead the team well into the postseason, shelling out 19 points and 12 rebounds in their Sweet Sixteen lossto Alabama.

Bacot’s career indeed experienced its fair share of sunny and rainy days, but the most important thing is that he stayed the course. He suited up for more games than any player in program history and climbed his way to greatness- leaving Carolina as the best rebounder in history, a feat he made possible through grit and commitment.

“To get to this point and think about where I was my freshman year, it’s just amazing. I can remember that summer meeting with Coach Williams and him being so honest and telling me I needed to get better,” Bacot said.

Reflecting on Williams recruiting DayRon Sharpe and Walker Kessler, Bacot shared that he felt like a lot of kids in his situation would have transferred.

Instead he stayed the course.

“It just pushed me to go harder.”

With his UNC career in the rearview, he’s in rarefied air. The team now faces the challenges of finding a player capable of matching his talent and impact. Coach Davis picked up some height in the transfer portal and junior Jalen Washington has gotten stronger over the years, but as Davis emphasized at ACC TipOff last week, nobody can replace Armando Bacot. What he did for this program and this school will continue for years to come and his presence will surely be missed this upcoming season.

Back in March his father posted a sentimental message on X saying, “Time flies; you will blink your eyes and it’s over. No words can explain how it feels to be a Tar Heel. Parents often ask how do you choose a college; my reply is “you gotta love who loves you.” The Bacots always felt the love. I’m Armando Bacot Sr., and I’m a Tar Heel.”

It was a farewell post that will endure for a long time and be difficult to grasp especially when Bacot is absent from that first game at the Smith Center on Oct. 27. But his success and leadership can serve as a model for the future, for the new era of Carolina Basketball.

“I’m ready to take it to that next level,” Bacot told me.

After going undrafted this past summer, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on Sept. 6th, a non-guaranteed deal that can be converted to a two-way before the season starts.