Thanks to its 91-69 domination of Notre Dame on Wednesday night, the UNC basketball team is right back in the win column.
North Carolina (15-4, 3-3 ACC) snapped a losing streak with Wednesday’s blowout win, a needed sign of relief. The Tar Heels have an extremely tough, rescheduled contest with rival Virginia coming up Saturday, so any momentum heading into this clash is crucial.
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UNC is largely thriving this season behind new additions Caleb Wilson, the crown jewel of Hubert Davis’ 2025 recruiting class and Henri Veesaar, the 7-foot Arizona transfer whom is the X-factor in Chapel Hill.
North Carolina lost five key players from its 2024-25 roster – Elliot Cadeau, Ian Jackson, Ven-Allen Lubin, Jalen Washington and Cade Tyson – whom are all now thriving elsewhere. Let’s take a quick dive into their curent seasons.
Elliot Cadeau
Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau (3) speaks at his post game interview after 86-72 win over Indiana at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.
10.5 points, five assists and 2.9 rebounds per game, 44.9 field goal percentage
Amongst the Tar Heels’ outgoing 2024-25 transfers, Cadeau is thriving the most. Starting at point guard in Michigan‘s second season under head coach Dusty May, Cadeau has his new team’s offense operating at an electric pace.
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The third-ranked Wolverines (16-1, 7-1 Big 10) average 92.7 points per game, sixth in Division-I, while their 19.4 assists per game are seventh-most. Cadeau is one of four Michigan players in double-digits, while he leads Big Blue in assists.
Cadeau started all 37 games for the Tar Heels a season ago, averaging 9.4 points and 6.2 assists per game.
Ian Jackson
Jan 17, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; St. John’s Red Storm guard Ian Jackson (11) drives for a shot against Villanova Wildcats forward Matt Hodge (33) during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
10.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 43.7 FG%
Jackson, originally from Bronx, is playing solid basketball in his first season with St. Johns. Starting 12 of his first 19 games, Jackson has the Thunderbirds second in Big East play behind red-hot UConn.
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Jackson averaged 11.9 points across 36 games for the Tar Heels last season, but he never seemed fully content in Carolina Blue.
Ven-Allen Lubin
NC State Wolfpack forward Ven-Allen Lubin (22) dunks the ball past Clemson Tigers forward RJ Godfrey (0) Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, during the NCAA men’s basketball game at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina. NC State Wolfpack won 80-76 in OT.
13.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1 APG, 67.1 FG%
Starting most of UNC’s games at center a season ago, Lubin chose hated rival NC State for his final season of college basketball.
Lubin is enjoying his best season in Year Five, averaging career-high of 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Playing in his first year under new Wolfpack head coach Will Wade, Lubin helped engineer a road upset of ranked Clemson on Tuesday.
Lubin is shooting the ball extremely efficiently, with his field goal percentage fifth across college basketball.
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Cade Tyson
Jan 17, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Cade Tyson (10) drives the ball as Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) defends during the second half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
20.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 50.2 FG%
Tar Heel Nation really wishes Tyson worked out in Chapel Hill, because the senior sharpshooter is one of the sport’s top scorers this season.
Tyson is leading the Minnesota Golden Gophers with 20.5 points per game, which is tied for 22nd in college basketball. Minnesota is just 10-9 overall, losing its past four games, but has a bright spot in Tyson.
Tyson averaged a career-low 2.6 points per game last year at UNC, which never really clicked with the North Carolina native.
Jalen Washington
Vanderbilt forward Jalen Washington (13) moves past Florida forward Thomas Haugh (10) during the second half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.
9.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.1 APG, 60 FG%
Washington is a key factor on the Vanderbilt Commodores who, despite losing their past three games, are still an SEC contender.
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Washington has just one start in 19 appearances, but he’s a solid scorer and one of Vandy’s top reserves. Washington is averaging career-bests in points, rebounds and assists per game.
The Tar Heels had plenty of hope for Washington, but he never panned out, averaging 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest last season.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball: A look at 2024-25 transfer performances on new teams
