What's Up with LUBIN?

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Does anyone know or think he's going to return to UNC? I mean that's what he said, but there's been crickets ever since.

According to SI he has generated some interest, including from a couple of good schools (Kentucky) and neighbors (NC State).

They also say he's among the top 10 remaining portal players.

Is Hubert interested if Lubin wants to return?

Do you want him back? I do.

UNC Basketball Forward Now Among Top 10 Undecided in Transfer Portal

There's still no telling where one-year UNC basketball player Ven-Allen Lubin will play next season.

www.si.com

 

[UncTwinz]

He's got a 2 million dollar offer from Miss St

 

[Oak ridger]

He's got a 2 million dollar offer from Miss St

He needs to pack his bags and run for Miss. St. I wish him the best of luck.

 

[strummingram]

Well... he SAID he was going to be at UNC next year.

"Before anybody jumps to the wrong conclusion, I am letting everyone know that I am entering the transfer portal with full intent on returning to UNC. My action relates to the complexities surrounding the possible approval of the pending NCAA settlement."

I guess there's enough verbal subterfuge there to get off-the-hook and not seem as though he is lying and just trying to get more money. Saying "I'm entering the portal to see if I can get more money for myself" doesn't have a real noble ring to it! I will admit that I have no idea what kind of complexities there are surrounding a possible NCAA settlement approval.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

I would certainly welcome him back for whatever we offered in the first place! If he was offered 2 million, he should grab the bag. Lubin would have to fight again to win his position and may well end up a backup here though. So his gamble might not work as planned OR he is really being truthful and is trying to win another year of eligibility??? (who knows if that is even what he means)

 

[superstar57]

He's got a 2 million dollar offer from Miss St

They got anymore room for a 49 year old with a bad knee. Miss St here I come.

An undersized 4 who plays the 5. We can use him, but 2 million go get your money.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

They got anymore room for a 49 year old with a bad knee. Miss St here I come.

An undersized 4 who plays the 5. We can use him, but 2 million go get your money.

Yeah. I'd like him back. He earned a place with us with the way he delivered last year when we counted on him. But if they're offering that kind of money and we aren't close to matching it, it's hard to think why he should turn it down.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Well... he SAID he was going to be at UNC next year.

"Before anybody jumps to the wrong conclusion, I am letting everyone know that I am entering the transfer portal with full intent on returning to UNC. My action relates to the complexities surrounding the possible approval of the pending NCAA settlement."

I guess there's enough verbal subterfuge there to get off-the-hook and not seem as though he is lying and just trying to get more money. Saying "I'm entering the portal to see if I can get more money for myself" doesn't have a real noble ring to it! I will admit that I have no idea what kind of complexities there are surrounding a possible NCAA settlement approval.

Yep he said it, but I certainly wouldn't blame him for taking a better offer - assuming we are still offering him.

It's also OK if we've moved on. He did enter the portal, after all. But unless Stevenson or Wilson is considered a backup center - which I don't think is the case - it doesn't look like we've replaced him in the portal or on the recruiting circuit.

I wish there were more transparency on this sort of thing. It would be nice to know if either side is still interested, (and how interested).

 

[dtodd4475]

They got anymore room for a 49 year old with a bad knee. Miss St here I come.

An undersized 4 who plays the 5. We can use him, but 2 million go get your money.

2 million seems like a lot. What I have heard about Braden Smith is Kentucky offered 3.5 million, but he took Purdue's 1.8 offerto stay in West Lafayette.

He is an All-American though. SEC money is a different animal though, so maybe.

 

[strummingram]

Yep he said it, but I certainly wouldn't blame him for taking a better offer - assuming we are still offering him.

It's also OK if we've moved on. He did enter the portal, after all. But unless Stevenson or Wilson is considered a backup center - which I don't think is the case - it doesn't look like we've replaced him in the portal or on the recruiting circuit.

I wish there were more transparency on this sort of thing. It would be nice to know if either side is still interested, (and how interested).

The reason I stuck that in there was because, what's the point of the verbal subterfuge at all? If you're saying you're going to come back to unc, but you have no intention of it unless they pay you a lot more money, why lie about it for the whole world to see?

 

[DSouthr]

Lubin pissed off a LOT of folks in Chapel Hill and what he said on social media only made things worse. Lubin agreed to the terms he would play under for next season, UNC moved on handling all the other issues it had to handle thinking Lubin was done. Then, out of the blue, no mention of any concern prior, the day before the portal ended, Lubin says I want more money and enters the portal. Now he clearly wanted UNC to pay him more and play for UNC next season but he made it a bad situation by waiting until the day before the portal ended to say anything, that made a lot of folks upset, very much including Hubert, Tanner, and Bubba. But he compounded the problem that he created for himself with those words on X. He was hoping UNC fans would not look at him in a negative light, as if he was turning blame toward the staff as in they are not paying returning players right.

I do not believe Miss St or any one else is willing to pay him $2million, he better take it before they gain some common sense if they do. For Lubin to come back to UNC I think he would have to take less money than he originally agreed to and really, even then he would not be warmly welcomed back. Frankly, I think we could get Brznic (the College of Charleston big man) for the $700K we have in the portal. Kid entered the portal early, there was some communication between he and UNC but thinking we had Lubin wrapped up we were not as interested but things are different now.

 

[UncTwinz]

If I'm the UNC staff, I'd blacklist Lubin's agent moving forward. I wouldn't even take phone calls from that agent after this nonsense.

For me personally, I hated how bad Lubin was on defense last season. With Veesaar as our starting center, I was hoping we'd find a solid defensive center as a backup.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Lubin pissed off a LOT of folks in Chapel Hill and what he said on social media only made things worse. Lubin agreed to the terms he would play under for next season, UNC moved on handling all the other issues it had to handle thinking Lubin was done. Then, out of the blue, no mention of any concern prior, the day before the portal ended, Lubin says I want more money and enters the portal. Now he clearly wanted UNC to pay him more and play for UNC next season but he made it a bad situation by waiting until the day before the portal ended to say anything, that made a lot of folks upset, very much including Hubert, Tanner, and Bubba. But he compounded the problem that he created for himself with those words on X. He was hoping UNC fans would not look at him in a negative light, as if he was turning blame toward the staff as in they are not paying returning players right.

I do not believe Miss St or any one else is willing to pay him $2million, he better take it before they gain some common sense if they do. For Lubin to come back to UNC I think he would have to take less money than he originally agreed to and really, even then he would not be warmly welcomed back. Frankly, I think we could get Brznic (the College of Charleston big man) for the $700K we have in the portal. Kid entered the portal early, there was some communication between he and UNC but thinking we had Lubin wrapped up we were not as interested but things are different now.

Please explain to me why Brzovic is still available. Is he testing the draft? Does he have a secret deal with someone? I don't get it.

I think you and I are the only ones who have brought him up more than in passing.

He's not only a perfect sub for Veesaar, he could also play alongside Veesaar for some of the game. They can both move out to shoot and are decent passers. They aren't limited to interior play. When was the last time you saw a really good twin towers? Those 2 could be that.

We are depending on a few guys to be exactly what we hope they will be. But in how many positions are we legit 2 deep - meaning little drop off if someone can't play? We don't have that in the post, imo. I think that's asking for trouble.

Sure, we could go all season without a serious injury or other key personnel loss. And even if we don't dodge the injury bug, we have decent backups for several positions. But why would Hubert risk his career on an injury to Veesaar? Not saying we couldn't still do well, but it sure would be a lot harder.

 

[TarHeelFanJ]

$2 million for Lubin is crazyyyy (if true). Gotta take Mississippi State’s offer if im him tbh

 

[GoNtheDistance]

if we give Lubin $2MM, we are every bit as dumb as i thought we were under this leadership.

 

[Devel Hunt]

50/50%

 

[DSouthr]

Please explain to me why Brzovic is still available. Is he testing the draft? Does he have a secret deal with someone? I don't get it.

I think you and I are the only ones who have brought him up more than in passing.

He's not only a perfect sub for Veesaar, he could also play alongside Veesaar for some of the game. They can both move out to shoot and are decent passers. They aren't limited to interior play. When was the last time you saw a really good twin towers? Those 2 could be that.

We are depending on a few guys to be exactly what we hope they will be. But in how many positions are we legit 2 deep - meaning little drop off if someone can't play? We don't have that in the post, imo. I think that's asking for trouble.

Sure, we could go all season without a serious injury or other key personnel loss. And even if we don't dodge the injury bug, we have decent backups for several positions. But why would Hubert risk his career on an injury to Veesaar? Not saying we couldn't still do well, but it sure would be a lot harder.

I think maybe the reason Brzovic is still available is that his asking price may have been a bit more than teams felt his value to be. clearly we didn't get to heavy with him because we had Lubin. But a funny thing happens when a kid has been in the portal for a while, they start to panic a bit and that asking price comes down for a program the kid really wants to play for. This is the time when you begin to get the NBA draft fall outs, you know, those real shiny new toys everyone wants to play with that come with extra price tags. This time is unique because I suspect many programs are thinking there is a possibility of the NCAA granting a across the board 5th yr of eligibility and there are some huge talents there if it happens but those guys are gonna be real costly yet by the time that actually would happen will any programs have the money to bring them in?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

by the time that actually would happen will any programs have the money to bring them in?

That would be my question, too, but we are reliably (and sometimes angrily) assured that the money will be there if we have a guy we want ready to come on board.

The NCAA extra year option is still hanging around. Any reason to think it will happen . . . and when? And if it does happen, will it apply to people who already redshirted or got a COVID year?

My impression from something I read was that the 5th year was going to replace all other types of extensions. Sort of like no fault insurance: you get a 5th year whether or not you had an injury or whatever, but you don't get more than a 5th year, regardless of reason.

 

[keysersosay#1]

I just don't think he is that good...if he leaves No big loss

 

[gauchoheel]

Well... he SAID he was going to be at UNC next year.

"Before anybody jumps to the wrong conclusion, I am letting everyone know that I am entering the transfer portal with full intent on returning to UNC. My action relates to the complexities surrounding the possible approval of the pending NCAA settlement."

I guess there's enough verbal subterfuge there to get off-the-hook and not seem as though he is lying and just trying to get more money. Saying "I'm entering the portal to see if I can get more money for myself" doesn't have a real noble ring to it! I will admit that I have no idea what kind of complexities there are surrounding a possible NCAA settlement approval.

He's not coming back. Watch what they do, not what they say.

 

[90sWoollenGymRat]

Missy State would be better off finally buying books for their library.

 

[DSouthr]

That would be my question, too, but we are reliably (and sometimes angrily) assured that the money will be there if we have a guy we want ready to come on board.

The NCAA extra year option is still hanging around. Any reason to think it will happen . . . and when? And if it does happen, will it apply to people who already redshirted or got a COVID year?

My impression from something I read was that the 5th year was going to replace all other types of extensions. Sort of like no fault insurance: you get a 5th year whether or not you had an injury or whatever, but you don't get more than a 5th year, regardless of reason.

WW, money is there but it kinda isn't at the same time. I will share a couple of fats that no one seems willing to talk about, UNC has plenty of deep pocketed boosters. Need a billion to build a new arena and you don't get begged to buy a $100 gift box, those deep pockets open up and all the sudden the money is there. But just like anyone else here,their money is their money and they spend their money on what they want, not what they don't like.

There are a lot of deep pockets that didn't like the Hubert hire and refuse to financially support it, at least to the levels that they normally would. They simply did not feel Hubert was the right choice and refuse to support a bad decision with their money. Everyone asks about MJ, and bottom line is MJ does not all all like college players being paid to play. He looks at it like he wasn't paid to play in college, the hall of fame is full of great players that were not paid to play in college and these kids should not be paid to play in college. Several former players are working on him, I think in time he will come around because he does love this program but the NCAA is going to have to get some kind of regulations in place to limit the nonsense we see before MJ decides to change his mind.

George Lynch has assembled a group of former players to pool together money but that is more for specific players and more specific to keeping big time players than buying new ones. I hear there may be a group that is not former players coming together that could help us in coming years. But a lot of this is based on a lack of trust in Hubert so anything they do is likely to have strings attached.

There are some deep pocket boosters that in the past were very willing to contribute huge sums that today simply do not like where they see college sports headed. They see college sports as being on the verge of imploding in on itself and question why they should waste several million on programs that they do not believe will be there 5years from now or at least with a college aspect to them.

People in the past contributed to UNC sports because they loved the sport and the school but love for todays college across the board is waning. Many, myself included, see far to much indoctrination on college campuses and to little education, parents are taking issue with what see happening now on college campuses, they are no longer certain that the best advice is for their own kids to go to a college and get that 4yr degree that sets them up for a solid life after college. They see student pulling down once beloved statues, they see violence on college campuses and it repulses them, they wonder why they would pay for their child to have such experiences much less why they should contribute their millions to institutions that foster such things. Very legit concerns in my view, what happens on 1 college campus effects all of them, it is a much larger problem than money for players to play a sport.

 

[EdGethBowledaPerfectGame!]

Lots on point and on target... until the last paragraph, IMO.

 

[17Apapaw]

Lots on point and on target... until the last paragraph, IMO.

That last paragraph is indeed on point. Anyone that can't see that needs to get head out of the sand IMHO.

 

[EdGethBowledaPerfectGame!]

That last paragraph is indeed on point. Anyone that can't see that needs to get head out of the sand IMHO.

Cool man. Agree to disagree.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

I wanted to love D's comment until it went so far off the rails! In the interest of the environment on here I will not give the necessary time to responding to the increasingly frustrating bit of nonsense all educators must face! Anyone who truly believes educators who sacrifice everything just to attempt to teach students who are taught to hate difference and to disrespect the very institution to which we dedicate our lives, would deem to "indoctrinate" instead of educate, is either blinded by rhetoric or willfully ignorant!

I pray we can return to sports and stay there!

 

[UncTwinz]

Many, myself included, see far to much indoctrination on college campuses and to little education,

The word you were looking for is "too."

How ironic.

 

[sctarheel30]

He's got a 2 million dollar offer from Miss St

If so what’s he waiting for

 

[gary-7]

That last paragraph is indeed on point. Anyone that can't see that needs to get head out of the sand IMHO.

Good grief.

 

[NathanFielder]

People in the past contributed to UNC sports because they loved the sport and the school but love for todays college across the board is waning. Many, myself included, see far to much indoctrination on college campuses and to little education, parents are taking issue with what see happening now on college campuses, they are no longer certain that the best advice is for their own kids to go to a college and get that 4yr degree that sets them up for a solid life after college. They see student pulling down once beloved statues, they see violence on college campuses and it repulses them, they wonder why they would pay for their child to have such experiences much less why they should contribute their millions to institutions that foster such things. Very legit concerns in my view, what happens on 1 college campus effects all of them, it is a much larger problem than money for players to play a sport.

That last paragraph is indeed on point. Anyone that can't see that needs to get head out of the sand IMHO.

The number of college applicants has gone up post-COVID. In 2024-25 college applicants were up 5% YOY. 2023-24 college applicants were up 10% in public schools YOY and up 3% in private schools YOY. And a lot of that was tracked through US zip code applicants while in 2022-23 there was a huge increase in international applicants. College enrollments have also increased by 4-6% the last two years. This is despite a birth rate that has been falling off a cliff since the mid 1990s.

More women are going to college than men, which is something that has happened recently in the last 30 years or so. And that trend is likely to continue. Also, good public schools have pretty low applicant acceptance rates. For instance, UNC has a 19% acceptance rate (42% for in state students). So if those low acceptance rates tell us anything, it generally means that the number of applicants is high and usually growing.

To your point, college enrollments fell between the years of 2010-2021. You may think that was because of political reasons. But it's important to say that 2010 shortly followed a global financial collapse. And 2020 was Covid.

Also, the United States' birth rate has been plummeting for a while now. in 1960 there were 22 live births per 1000 people. In 1980 that dropped to 15 births per 1000 people. It marginally recovered to 15.5 births per 1000 people in 1990. It currently is at 12 births per 1000 people in 2024. So there are fewer kids so logically, there will be fewer people available to go to college. This is why experts are predicting a decline in college applicants in the future.

All of that isn't to say your opinion is not a contributing factor to projected future declines in college applicants/enrollments. But there are other factors that affect more people that appear to be the primary contributing factors in this.

Sources:

Common App data shows 5% jump in first-year college applicants

Applications grew at a faster pace in the 2024-25 cycle among students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, the company reported.

www.highereddive.com

U.S. College Enrollment: Trends and Statistics | BestColleges

While college enrollment has declined in the recent past, new students and older learners have contributed to an uptick in enrollment this year.

www.bestcolleges.com

U.S. College Enrollment Decline: Facts and Figures| BestColleges

College enrollment peaked around 2010, and it may be headed for a steep decline. Learn more about college enrollment trends and the factors impacting enrollment.

www.bestcolleges.com

U.S. Birth Rate 1950-2025 | MacroTrends

Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.

www.macrotrends.net

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

The word you were looking for is "too."

How ironic.

Shhh. If he ever changes his handle, that is how we will know him.

That and novel-length paragraphs.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

The number of college applicants has gone up post-COVID. In 2024-25 college applicants were up 5% YOY. 2023-24 college applicants were up 10% in public schools YOY and up 3% in private schools YOY. And a lot of that was tracked through US zip code applicants while in 2022-23 there was a huge increase in international applicants. College enrollments have also increased by 4-6% the last two years. This is despite a birth rate that has been falling off a cliff since the mid 1990s.

More women are going to college than men, which is something that has happened recently in the last 30 years or so. And that trend is likely to continue. Also, good public schools have pretty low applicant acceptance rates. For instance, UNC has a 19% acceptance rate (42% for in state students). So if those low acceptance rates tell us anything, it generally means that the number of applicants is high and usually growing.

To your point, college enrollments fell between the years of 2010-2021. You may think that was because of political reasons. But it's important to say that 2010 shortly followed a global financial collapse. And 2020 was Covid.

Also, the United States' birth rate has been plummeting for a while now. in 1960 there were 22 live births per 1000 people. In 1980 that dropped to 15 births per 1000 people. It marginally recovered to 15.5 births per 1000 people in 1990. It currently is at 12 births per 1000 people in 2024. So there are fewer kids so logically, there will be fewer people available to go to college. This is why experts are predicting a decline in college applicants in the future.

All of that isn't to say your opinion is not a contributing factor to projected future declines in college applicants/enrollments. But there are other factors that affect more people that appear to be the primary contributing factors in this.

Sources:

Common App data shows 5% jump in first-year college applicants

Applications grew at a faster pace in the 2024-25 cycle among students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, the company reported.

www.highereddive.com

U.S. College Enrollment: Trends and Statistics | BestColleges

While college enrollment has declined in the recent past, new students and older learners have contributed to an uptick in enrollment this year.

www.bestcolleges.com

U.S. College Enrollment Decline: Facts and Figures| BestColleges

College enrollment peaked around 2010, and it may be headed for a steep decline. Learn more about college enrollment trends and the factors impacting enrollment.

www.bestcolleges.com

U.S. Birth Rate 1950-2025 | MacroTrends

Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.

www.macrotrends.net

Nice work. Thanks.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

Anyone interested in discussing VA Lubin??? I believe peeps at one point thought 5 was a position of need. I would like to know for certain whether this young man burned his bridges or not.

Hubs seems like the type to forgive and I know it is part of the Family idea so......