Shortly after the Tar Heels found out they didn’t make the NCAA Tournament and opted not to compete in the NIT, it was apparent that a roster overhaul was going to take place this off-season. That has been evident, as the program has seen five players exit the program through the transfer portal, Leaky Black has exhausted his college eligibility, and Caleb Love has yet to announce his future, although the expectation is for him to leave as well. With all that going on, Hubert Davis and his staff have been busy in the transfer portal, seeking to find the necessary talent, to return the Carolina program back to the NCAA Tournament.
One of the first players that Hubert Davis identified as a potential newcomer to the Carolina Basketball program, was Nick Timberlake, from Towson, who has spent the last five years with the Tigers and has one last year of eligibility. Timberlake is a 6-4 guard and has averaged double figures scoring the last three seasons, with this year being his best, averaging 17.7 points, on 46% shooting, and 41% shooting from behind the three-point line. Factor in him nearly averaging four rebounds and over two assists per game, and it’s easy to see why Carolina and other Power Six conference programs are interested in his services.
Since contacting him shortly after entering the portal just about two weeks ago, Hubert Davis conducted an in-home visit last week, setting the stage for Timberlake to visit Chapel Hill, although a date hasn’t been confirmed. In his two years as the Carolina head coach, Hubert Davis has had a lot of success, hosting transfers and earning their commitment, like Brady Manek two seasons ago, and Pete Nance just last summer.
With the level of talent Timberlake has played against, it’s easy to see why many people would be cautious about adding him to a roster, that needs more talent after missing the NCAA Tournament officially for the first time since 2010. But when you see how many Power Six conferences are interested in adding the soon-to-be, sixth-year player, the belief must exist that he will adjust well to the advanced level of play. One of the things that Timberlake could bring to the roster if he ends up in the Carolina Blue, is more size in the backcourt, as he stands at 6-4. Assuming that Love exits the program, Carolina's backcourt will consist of R.J. Davis (6-0), D’Marco Dunn (6-5), Seth Trimble (6-3), and incoming five-star freshman Simeon Wilcher who is also 6-4. As a career 38% three-point shooter, it would boost Carolina’s perimeter shooting, which is desperately needed after being the second-worst outside shooting team, in UNC history.
The focus for Carolina this off-season is replenishing the talent, and the depth at the wing position, and while Timberlake won’t fill that void, he can replace the potential departure of Caleb Love, and create a scenario where UNC plays a three-guard lineup, in which Hubert Davis desperately wants to do.
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