After flirting with the Heels during his original recruitment, Harrison Ingram has finally found his way to Chapel Hill. What will he bring to North Carolina?

Harrison Ingram may have become the latest installment in North Carolina’s roster reconstruction three weeks ago, but the Stanford transfer’s introduction to the program happened long before he entered the portal. The powerfully built wing, a former McDonald’s All-American, had considered UNC out of high school. He took an unofficial visit to Chapel Hill in February 2020 before ultimately choosing the Cardinal.

Though Stanford won the initial recruitment, his decision to transfer reignited the spark between Ingram and the Tar Heels. Three years (and one global pandemic) later, Ingram has returned to Carolina, this time with a commitment and a clear path to playing time.

Now, Ingram didn’t quite live up to the burger boy hype in Palo Alto, averaging 10.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in two seasons. However, his stats don’t tell the full story. He profiles as a strong ancillary piece but functioned as the primary option at Stanford. Hampered by a lackluster supporting cast, he led the Cardinal in usage and shouldered the offensive load. That won’t be the case playing alongside RJ Davis and Armando Bacot — but it’s a situation that better suits his skill. With that in mind, what can UNC fans expect out of their most touted transfer?

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The strength: Passing acumen

The attribute that will most positively impact the Heels from Day 1 is his passing. An elite distributor, Ingram finished second in the Pac-12 in conference play with a 28.8 assist rate. This strength compares him most favorably to former Tar Heel Theo Pinson, the point forward who played pivotal roles for UNC’s 2017 national championship team and its 2018 squad that earned a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Pinson posted a 27.4 assist rate his senior season.

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