Our Keeping It Heel UNC Basketball player previews will continue with a talented returning big man who can provide depth at the position.

There aren’t many players on the 2023-2024 UNC Basketball roster that fans are familiar with due to the large roster overhaul that took place last off-season.

However, Jalen Washington is a name that Tar Heel fans will recognize, though, and can get excited about for several reasons, mainly the depth and talent he can provide behind All-American Armando Bacot.

While he didn’t play much last season, we should see more action from the six-foot-ten forward and expect him to receive much more playing time this season.

2022-2023 Season in Review

Coming off an injury that he suffered in high school, Washington was limited for most of his true freshman season.

When Armando Bacot went down with an injury early on against Virginia, Washington was called upon to fill the void. His best performance came against the Cavaliers, as he recorded 13 points and six rebounds over 27 minutes of action.

In the following game against Louisville, Washington played 19 minutes to help lead the Tar Heels to a blowout victory on the road.

After that two-game stretch, Bacot returned, and Washington went back to seeing limited minutes.

Washington finished the season with 20 appearances, averaging just 5.6 minutes per contest.

What to Expect in 2023-2024

Washington was still recovering from the injury he suffered during his high school senior season when he arrived on campus as a Tar Heel during his freshman season, limiting him last season. Now, it is expected that Washington will be at full strength and provide a much bigger impact moving forward.

During the UNC Basketball media day, Washington spoke about how beneficial the off-season was for him and that he didn’t have to spend it rehabbing as he did during the 2022 off-season leading into his freshman season. Washington being fully healthy provides more depth in the front court and gives the Tar Heels another big man who can have an impact on the game.

Bold Prediction

Bacot took the opportunity during media day to give Washington a shoutout and said he is a player to look out for this upcoming season. Having the full off-season at his disposal, Washington spoke about how he’s getting a better feel for the game and becoming a more consistent shooter.