By R.L. Bynum

In today’s crazy college basketball world with numerous transfers the norm, there are 11 former Carolina players about to start seasons at other schools — seven men’s players and four women’s players. Two players who were Tar Heels teammates three season ago have reunited in the SEC.

The two most prominent players transferring from Coach Hubert Davis’ men’s team during the offseason will get a chance to catch up with each other on Saturday. Elliot Cadeau’s Michigan team will play Ian Jackson’s St. John’s team in Madison Square Garden in a 7 p.m. exhibition game Saturday (Big Ten Network Plus).

In Cadeau’s exhibition debut as a Wolverine, a 100–88 home loss on Friday to Coach Wes Miller’s Cincinnati team, Cadeau scored 14 points. He made his only shot and was 12 of 15 at the free-throw line with seven assists, five rebounds and two steals before fouling out with 14 seconds left.

Cadeau steps into the point guard role vacated by Tre Donaldson, who transferred to Miami — his third school in three season after playing his first two seasons at Auburn.

Jackson’s exhibition debut wasn’t as impressive. He had six points in 17 minutes during a 74–63 home win Saturday over Towson.

A lot is expected of Jackson, named to the Big East Preseason Second Team, as the Bronx native returns to the New York area.

“I don’t really think pressure is an issue,” Jackson said at the St. John’s media day. “I kind of accept pressure.”

Ven-Allen Lubin is at N.C. State, his fourth school in four seasons. He’s one of two transfers who will face UNC. The other is Paulina Paris, who is at her third school in three seasons. After playing at Carolina two seasons ago, she played at Arizona last season, then followed her head coach, Adia Barnes, to SMU.

Lubin makes his exhibition debut at the Wolfpack, which lost former UNC guard Dontrez Styles to graduation, at 4:30 Sunday in Greensboro against South Carolina.

Also playing with their third school in three seasons are:
— Trayanna Crisp: Arizona State → UNC → Mississippi State
— RyLee Grays: UNC → Virginia → Tulsa
— Cade Tyson: Belmont → UNC → Minnesota

Tyson had an impressive exhibition debut for the Gophers, who lost former Tar Heel Dawson Garcia to graduation. Tyson poured in 29 points and six 3-pointers on Thursday in an 80–54 home exhibition victory over North Dakota State.

Jalen Washington is expected to start at Vanderbilt alongside Tyler Nickel, who was his UNC teammate during the 2022–23 season.

Nickel is one of two former Tar Heels playing for the same school for the second consecutive season, along with Kentucky forward Teonni Key, expected to again start for Coach Kenny Brooks.

After playing only 129 minutes the previous two seasons at UAB, center Will Shaver transferred to Samford of the Southern Conference, where he will compete to start at center.

Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)

Roster situation — Starting point guard ahead of sophomore L.J. Cason
Last season statistics (UNC) — 37 games, 37 starts, 27.8 minutes, 9.4 points, 44.5 FG%, 33.7 3P%, 67 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.1 steals
First exhibition — 100–98 home loss Oct. 17 to Cincinnati: Started, 31 minutes, 14 points, 1–1 FG, 12–15 FT, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 fouls (fouled out with 14 seconds left), 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +3
Second exhibition — 7 p.m. Saturday at St. John’s, Big Ten Network Plus
Predicted Big 10 finish in poll — Second of 18
Opener — 8:30 Monday, Nov. 3, vs. Oakland, FS1

Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)

Roster situation — One of five guards competing for time
Last season statistics (UNC) — 28 games, 1 start, 13.9 minutes, 5.6 points, 37.8 FG%, 25.5 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 1.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 of a steal
First exhibition — 7 p.m. Sunday vs. Union
Predicted SEC finish in poll — 10th of 16
Opener — 6:30 Monday, Nov. 3, vs. Davidson

Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Last season statistics (Virginia) — 23 games, 1 start, 11.7 minutes, 2.0 points, 31.8 FG%, 64.3 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 0.5 of a steal
Predicted American Conference finish in poll — 10th out of 13
Opener — 6:30 Wednesday, Nov. 5, vs. New Orleans

Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 195 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)

Roster situation — Starter at the 2 spot ahead of senior Oziya Sellers
Last season statistics (UNC) — 36 games, 12 starts, 23.8 minutes, 11.9 points, 45.6 FG%, 39.5 3P%, 72.3 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 0.6 of a steal
First exhibition — 73–63 home win Oct. 18 vs. Towson: Started, 17 minutes, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 1 turnover
Second exhibition — 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Michigan, Big Ten Network Plus
Predicted Big East finish in poll — 1st out of 11
Opener — 6:30 Monday, Nov. 3, vs. Quinnipiac, FS1

Roster situation — Starting forward
Last season statistics (first at Kentucky) — 31 games, 31 starts, 28.1 minutes, 11.4 points, 50.4 FG%, 24.4 3P%, 77.4 FT%, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 of an assist, 1.7 blocks
Predicted SEC finish in poll — 8th of 16
Opener — 6:30 Monday, Nov. 3, vs. Morehead State

Roster situation — Starting forward
Last season statistics (first at Vanderbilt) — 33 games, 33 starts, 25.0 minutes, 10.4 points, 42.0 FG%, 40.5 3P%, 84.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
First exhibition — Two 24-minute halves at home vs. Virginia: Vanderbilt won the first half 44–41 and the second half 51–46.
Second exhibition — 8 p.m. Thursday at UAB
Predicted SEC finish in poll — 11th out of 16
Opener — 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, vs. Lipscomb

Roster situation — Likely starting guard
Last season statistics (Arizona) — 33 games, 24 starts, 24.9 minutes, 8.3 points, 39.8 FG%, 30.6 3P%, 59.6 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals
First exhibition — 7:30 Tuesday vs. West Texas A&M
Second exhibition — 7:30 Monday vs. Cal State Los Angeles
Predicted ACC finish in poll — 14th out of 18
Opener — Noon Tuesday, Nov. 4, vs. Grambling State
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Carmichael Arena, ACCN

Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)

Roster situation — Competing for starting minutes
Last season statistics (Arizona) — 9 games, 0 starts, 41 minutes, 2 points 1–2 FG, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block
Predicted Southern Conference finish in poll — 3rd out of 10
Opener — 7:30 Monday, Nov. 4, vs. Mississippi College

Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)

Roster situation — Likely starter at the 3 spot
Last season statistics (UNC) — 31 games, 0 starts, 7.9 minutes, 2.6 points, 40.3 FG%, 29.2 3P%, 56.3 FT%, 1.1 rebounds
First exhibition — 80–54 home win Oct. 16 over North Dakota State: 24 minutes, 29 points, 9–13 FG, 6–9 3FG, 4–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 1 block
Second exhibition — 1 p.m. Saturday vs. North Dakota, Big Ten Network Plus
Predicted Big Ten in poll — 16th of 18
Opener — 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, vs. Gardner-Webb, Big Ten Network Plus

Roster situation — Starter
Last season statistics (UNC) — 37 games, 20 starts, 19.6 minutes, 8.7 points, 68.4 FG%, 71.1 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 0.4 of a steal, 0.9 of a block
Only exhibition — 4:30 Sunday vs. South Carolina in Greensboro
Predicted ACC finish in poll — 4th of 18
Opener — 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, vs. N.C. Central, ACC Network Extra
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, ESPN or ESPN2

Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)

Roster situation — Starting center
Last season statistics (UNC) — 36 games, 16 starts, 15.9 minutes, 5.7 points, 59.4 FG%, 27.8 3P%, 63.8 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist, 0.8 of a block
First exhibition — Two 24-minute halves at home vs. Virginia: Vanderbilt won the first half 44–41 and the second half 51–46.
Second exhibition — 8 p.m. Thursday at UAB
Predicted SEC finish in poll — 11th out of 16
Opener — 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, vs. Lipscomb

Photo via @StJohnsBBall