 Bacot withNorth Carolina in 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 00 – Memphis Hustle | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Center /power forward | ||||||||||||||
| League | NBA G League | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (2000-03-06)March 6, 2000 (age 25) Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school |
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| College | North Carolina (2019–2024) | ||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2024:undrafted | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2024–present | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Memphis Hustle | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Stats at NBA.com  | |||||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Armando Linwood Bacot Jr./ˈbeɪkɒt/ (born March 6, 2000) is an American professionalbasketball player for theMemphis Hustle of theNBA G League. He playedcollege basketball for theNorth Carolina Tar Heels. He holds the program records for double-doubles and career rebounds. Over his 5-year career, Bacot played in a UNC-record 171 games.
Bacot attendedTrinity Episcopal School in his hometown ofRichmond, Virginia. As a sophomore, Bacot averaged 11.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. As a junior, he averaged 24.5 points and 12 rebounds per game.[1] Before his senior year, Bacot transferred toIMG Academy inBradenton, Florida.[2] As a senior he averaged 12.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.[3] Bacot played in both theMcDonald's All-American Game and 2019Jordan Brand Classic.[4][5]
Bacot was considered a five-starrecruit in the 2019 class byESPN andRivals, and a four-star recruit by247Sports.[6][7] On August 16, 2018, Bacot committed to playingcollege basketball forNorth Carolina over offers fromDuke,Kansas,Oklahoma State,Villanova, andVCU.[8][9][10]
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armando Bacot C | Richmond, VA | IMG Academy (FL) | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Aug 16, 2018 | |
Star ratings:Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 94[11][12][13] | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals:27 247Sports:34 ESPN:18 | ||||||
Sources:
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On November 20, 2019, Bacot had 22 points and 14 rebounds in a 75–61 win overElon.[14] He had 23 points, 12 rebounds and a season-high six blocks in a 78–74 win overOregon on November 29.[15] In a 74–49 loss toOhio State on December 4, Bacot suffered a left ankle injury and was expected to miss some time.[16] However, he returned for the following game, a 56–47 loss toVirginia, and scored 11 points.[17] He sat out North Carolina's home victory againstWake Forest on March 3, 2020. As a freshman, Bacot averaged 9.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, shooting 46.9 percent from the floor.[18] Armando also had 11 double-doubles, the second most by a Tar Heel freshman.[19]
As a sophomore, he averaged 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, shooting 62.8 percent from the floor. He was named third-teamAll-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[20] On April 6, 2021, he declared for the2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.[21] He withdrew his name from the draft pool in order to return toChapel Hill for his junior season.
On November 5, 2021, new UNC head coachHubert Davis named Bacot as team captain alongside sophomoresR. J. Davis andCaleb Love.[22] On January 8, 2022, Bacot posted career-highs of 29 points and 21 rebounds in a 78–54 win againstVirginia.[23] Bacot picked up 23double-doubles in the regular season, tying the UNC single-season record previously held byBrice Johnson.[24] Bacot was a key performer in the Tar Heels' 94–81 upset overDuke inMike Krzyzewski's final game in Cameron Indoor Stadium, scoring 23 points along with 7 rebounds.[25] Four out of the five Tar Heel starters scored twenty-plus points in the game.[26] Following the conclusion of the regular season, he was named First Team All-ACC, and finished runner-up the voting for ACC Player of the Year, behind Wake Forest'sAlondes Williams.[27] On March 10, 2022, Bacot recorded his 24th double-double of the season, breaking the school record of 23 that had been set byBrice Johnson in 2016.[28] On March 27, 2022, Bacot tied Tim Duncan's ACC single-season record with his 29th double-double and also passed Duncan (457) for the most rebounds in a single season in ACC history (since 1985–86).[29] Entering the 2022 Final Four, Bacot had 475 rebounds in the 2021–22 season, which was 4th in NCAA history for a single-season (since 1985–86).[citation needed] North Carolina lost inthe national championship game to Kansas. Bacot recorded 15 points and 15 rebounds, becoming the first player in tournament history to have adouble-double in all six tournament games.[30]
Following the Tar Heels' stunning Final Four run in 2022, Bacot decided to return to Chapel Hill for his senior year.[31] Along with Love, Davis, and Black, Bacot was part of a core for a team that earned the preseason No. 1 ranking. in the AP Poll. Despite the expectations, the team struggled throughout the season, going 23–10 and missing out on the NCAA tournament. Bacot, however, was one of the lone bright spots for the Tar Heels, earning first-team all-ACC honors and being named third team All-America.[32][33] On January 21, 2023, in an 80–69 win against rivalsNC State, Bacot surpassed two Tar Heel records. He passedTyler Hansbrough for most rebounds in a career at UNC, andBilly Cunningham for most double doubles in program history.[34] On the season, he averaged 15.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
Following his senior season, Bacot announced that he would use his fifth year of eligibility (granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic), and return to North Carolina for the 2023–24 season.[35] Prior to the start of the season, Bacot was named a preseason All-American by theAssociated Press.[36] On November 6, 2023, Bacot scored 25 points and 13 rebounds in a 86–70 win againstRadford.[37] On November 12, 2023, Bacot scored 22 points and 20 rebounds in a 90–68 victory overLehigh.[38] On November 13, 2023, Bacot earnedAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) player of the week honors after averaging 23.5 points and 16.5 rebounds per game.[39] On November 29, 2023, Bacot had another double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds in a 100–92 win overTennessee.[40]
On January 2, 2024, Bacot scored his 2000th career point, making him the third player in school history to reach2000 points and 1000 rebounds.[41] On January 8, 2024, Bacot earned ACC Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive time.[42] On January 17, 2024, Bacot scored 19 points and 7 rebounds in a 86–70 win againstLouisville.[43] On February 3, 2024, Bacot scored a double-double 25 points and 10 rebounds in a 93–84 win against archrivalDuke.[44] On February 17, 2024, Bacot scored another double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds in a 96–81 win againstVirginia Tech.[45]
After going undrafted in the2024 NBA draft, Bacot joined theUtah Jazz for the2024 NBA Summer League[46] and on September 6, 2024, he signed with theMemphis Grizzlies.[47] However, he was waived on October 19[48] and on October 28, he joined theMemphis Hustle.[49]
Bacot played for theUnited States under-18 basketball team at the2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship. He averaged 7.8 points and five rebounds,[50] helping his team win the gold medal.[51]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | North Carolina | 32 | 32 | 24.5 | .469 | – | .645 | 8.3 | 1.2 | .5 | 1.1 | 9.6 |
| 2020–21 | North Carolina | 29 | 28 | 22.7 | .628 | .000 | .661 | 7.8 | .8 | .7 | .9 | 12.3 |
| 2021–22 | North Carolina | 39 | 39 | 31.6 | .569 | .125 | .670 | 13.1 | 1.5 | .8 | 1.7 | 16.3 |
| 2022–23 | North Carolina | 32 | 32 | 30.3 | .554 | .000 | .665 | 10.4 | 1.4 | .6 | 1.0 | 15.9 |
| 2023–24 | North Carolina | 37 | 37 | 30.3 | .540 | .400 | .781 | 10.3 | 1.5 | .6 | 1.5 | 14.5 |
| Career | 169 | 168 | 28.2 | .552 | .200 | .688 | 10.1 | 1.3 | .6 | 1.3 | 13.9 | |
In 2023, Bacot made a cameo in a season three episode ofNetflix'sOuter Banks.[52]
