Armando Bacot is returning to North Carolina for his final season of eligibility, according to a report.

That’s per college basketball insider Jeff Goodman, who cites a conversation with the Tar Heel legend.

“I’m using my last year of eligibility,” he said. “I felt it was the right decision for my future.”

Bacot will return to North Carolina next year as the program’s all-time leading rebounder — a record he broke earlier this season.

Bacot has accomplished a lot during his time at Carolina, but this past season was a disappointment for the program. UNC missed the NCAA Tournament after being the preseason No. 1 team in the country.

This past season, Bacot averaged 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest.

Looking ahead to next year, Bacot could break other career records at North Carolina including minutes played and offensive rebounds. He will also have a chance to crack the top 5 of UNC’s all-time scoring list.

Bacot has an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What this means for North Carolina

The Tar Heels are in the midst of a roster upheaval, as 4 bench players have already announced intentions to enter the transfer portal. However, bringing Bacot will give UNC an All-ACC caliber player as well as experience and continuity for next year’s roster.

It’s unclear how many of North Carolina’s other starters intend to return for next season. Leaky Black and Pete Nance are out of eligibility, but RJ Davis and Caleb Love could decide to return. Other young players like Jalen Washington and Seth Trimble could also have tough decisions to make.

Given the number of players expected to leave UNC this offseason, the Tar Heels should be very active in the transfer portal market. So far, they have only signed 2 prospects in the high school class of 2023.