Caleb Love will be back for his sophomore season in Chapel Hill.
One week after North Carolina’s 2020-21 season came to a close, Love announced on Twitter that he will return for the 2021-22 campaign.
unfinished business!! let’s go!!💙
— Caleb Love (@caleb2love) March 27, 2021
As a freshman, Love appeared in 29 games — making 26 starts. The 6-foot-4 point guard averaged 10.5 points, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Love entered UNC with a great deal of NBA hype; however, he struggled on both ends of the floor this season. There were flashes; Love would intercept a pass and finish with fury in transition. However, a lack of burst and frigid pull-up shoot numbers caused his efficiency to crater. Love shot just 32 percent from the field and 27 percent on his 3-point attempts.
Caleb Love finishes his freshman season with 305 points on 329 FGA — 32 FG%, 35 2P%, 27 3P%, 37 eFG%, 24% FTA rate
Struggled with burst, ability to separate from defenders. Cracking the paint off a live dribble never really came with ease. Pull-up shooting should improve, though
— Brian Geisinger (@bgeis_bird) March 20, 2021
On the defensive end, Love was routinely caught ball-watching in help situations. Love is set to be the highest-rated recruit in the ACC from the 2020 class to return for his sophomore season.
Following Walker Kessler’s decision to transfer out of the program, it’s been an uneasy week for UNC basketball. Love’s return is a bit of stabilizing force, though.
The frontcourt with Armando Bacot and Garrison Brooks is a bit of mystery; however, Roy Williams can be some level of confidence with Love back. North Carolina should have firepower in the backcourt: Love, RJ Davis and Kerwin Walton.