North Carolina lands ACC forward via transfer portal

First it was the Kansas Jayhawks adding a marquee transfer late in the offseason in David Coit, a 20 point per game scorer from Northern Illinois.

Now it’s another blue blood getting reinforcements just before the school year begins, as the North Carolina Tar Heels secured a commitment from Georgia Tech transfer forward Tyzhaun Claude on Wednesday.

Claude entered the portal back on April 1 but, like Coit, didn’t get a report he was going to be eligible this upcoming season until the NCAA approved his waiver last week. Georgetown was known to be heavily in pursuit of Claude, but ultimately the 6’7 forward will take his talents to Chapel Hill.

Claude averaged 4.8 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets last season, starting four games. He posted nine points, eight rebounds, and three blocks for Georgia Tech in an upset win over the Tar Heels on January 30.

The native of Goldsboro, NC began his career at Morehead State, spending three years there before spending one season at Western Carolina where he averaged 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds.

Claude joins a Tar Heels program that has long been on the hunt for more reinforcements up front in the absence of star Armando Bacot.

Carolina missed out on known targets Cliff Omoruyi and Coleman Hawkins, but did bring in Vanderbilt big man Ven-Allen Lubin to compete with returners Jae’Lyn Withers and Jalen Washington. Now Claude will figure into the mix as well as Hubert Davis looks to field a team capable of taking down the star-studded Duke Blue Devils in the ACC in 2024-25.