College Basketball

Jaydon Young to UNC: Another Missed Opportunity for Hubert Davis

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jaydon young

Virginia Tech transfer Jaydon Young announced his commitment to North Carolina today after decommitting from High Point. It fills a roster spot but raises bigger concerns about Hubert Davis’ handling of the transfer portal.

Young averaged 8.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game last season. He shot just 34.7% from the field and 29.6% from three-point range. Those numbers don’t project well for a program trying to contend nationally. This isn’t the kind of addition that solves problems. It’s the kind of move you make when better options are gone.

Does Jaydon Young Help UNC’s Shooting Problem?

UNC needed shooting. They needed guards who could space the floor and take pressure off Cadeau’s replacement at point guard. Young does neither. He struggled to stay efficient at Virginia Tech and showed no signs of being a knockdown shooter. In ACC play, he barely cracked 30% from deep. That won’t fix a roster that already lacked perimeter threats last season.

They also needed a secondary ball-handler. Young averaged fewer than 1.5 assists per game. He doesn’t create for others and isn’t a strong decision-maker under pressure. He projects as another low-usage, low-efficiency scorer—on a team that already has too many questions about its offensive identity.

Hubert Davis Let Top UNC Talent Walk Away

There’s no way around it: Hubert Davis let elite talent walk out the door. Ian Jackson left. Elliot Cadeau left. Both were five-star talents who could have carried the program forward. Instead of replacing them with players of similar caliber, Davis is signing role players like Jaydon Young who didn’t stand out even at mid-level ACC programs.

Young isn’t a replacement for Jackson’s scoring ability. He isn’t a replacement for Cadeau’s playmaking. He’s a seat filler at a time when UNC needs game-changers.

Is Hubert Davis Failing in the Transfer Portal?

The Young signing underlines a bigger issue. North Carolina is not leading portal battles anymore. They’re reacting to misses, patching holes, and hoping for internal development. It’s not a serious strategy for competing at the top of college basketball.

Jaydon Young might give the Tar Heels minutes. But this isn’t a move that gets UNC back to Final Fours. It’s another sign that the program is sliding backward—and Hubert Davis doesn’t have a clear plan to stop it.