UNC basketball forward Jarin Stevenson is staying home to play his senior season for the Tar Heels. Stevenson, a 6-foot-10 forward and Chapel Hill native, announced his decision Monday, April 13, with a social media post. “I’m Backkkkkk,” Stevenson wrote on his Instagram page.
A starter in 25 of 33 games in his first season with the Tar Heels, Stevenson’s return gives first-year coach Michael Malone some roster continuity and valuable positional size because of Stevenson’s versatility. The announcement came shortly after Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas, a 6-foot-9 guard, committed to the Tar Heels.
Jarin Stevenson stats
After playing at Alabama in his first two seasons, including a Final Four run as a freshman in Tuscaloosa, Stevenson returned home for his junior year and became a key role player at UNC. He averaged 8.1 points on 47% shooting, including a 29.5% clip from 3-point range, and 4.4 rebounds across 33 games.
Over the final 10 games, including nine with freshman star Caleb Wilson out because of an injury, Stevenson elevated his play as a scorer and rebounder. In that stretch, Stevenson averaged 10.7 points on 51.4% shooting and 6.4 rebounds per game. In the final three games, Stevenson averaged 11 points and 7 rebounds. He scored a season-high 19 points against Pitt and helped UNC earn a comeback win at Virginia with 17 points in the second half. He also led UNC in the plus-minus stat in eight games, tying Henri Veesaar for top honors.
