Jarin Stevenson’s Versatility Shines as North Carolina Edges Ohio State in CBS Sports Classic
ATLANTA - In a game that came down to the wire, it wasn’t just the stars who made the difference for North Carolina. It was a 6-foot-9 freshman coming off the bench who quietly - but critically - shifted the game’s momentum.
With Seth Trimble back in the starting five, UNC head coach Hubert Davis had a lineup decision to make. He could return Luka Bogavac to the bench, where he began the season, or pull Jarin Stevenson from the starting unit. Davis opted for the latter - and it turned out to be the right call, even if Stevenson’s name wasn’t on the starting lineup card.
Stevenson logged 27 minutes - the fourth-most of any Tar Heel - and was a difference-maker in UNC’s gritty 71-70 win over Ohio State on Saturday in the CBS Sports Classic. His impact wasn’t flashy, but it was everywhere: switching onto guards, battling in the paint, grabbing offensive boards, and even delivering the game’s most clutch defensive play.
Ask anyone around the UNC locker room about Stevenson, and one word keeps coming up: versatility.
“It’s just huge,” Davis said postgame. “To have a guy who’s 6-9, 6-10, who can play inside and out offensively, and then defensively can switch and guard multiple positions - that’s a huge factor for us.”
And that’s exactly what Stevenson gave them. With UNC still searching for consistency behind starting center Henri Veesaar, the backup five spot has been a bit of a revolving door.
Zayden High and James Brown have had their moments, but neither has locked down the role. In recent weeks, Stevenson has quietly been getting reps at the five in practice - and on Saturday, that work paid off.
One of the standout moments came late in the second half when Stevenson switched onto Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton - one of the most explosive guards in the country - and held his ground off a high pick-and-roll. That’s not something most freshman forwards can do, but Stevenson isn’t most freshmen.
“That’s one of the biggest things I bring to the team,” Stevenson said. “Being able to play and guard multiple positions, and give different looks. That’s what I take pride in.”
His defensive versatility came up big again when UNC needed it most. Down one with 23 seconds left, the Tar Heels were pressing full court, trying to force a turnover.
Stevenson delivered. He jumped the passing lane, came up with a steal, and flipped the game back in Carolina’s favor - setting up the game-winning basket.
But he wasn’t done. Stevenson also grabbed five rebounds, including two on the offensive glass, both of which he turned into put-backs.
In a one-point game, those second-chance points mattered. A lot.
“He just gives us rebounding with the lineup with me and Jarin,” said Caleb Wilson. “We’re just gunners, like we’re just running as hard as we can.
We’re trying to create advantages, knowing we’re quicker than most bigs we’ll go up against. Both of us give us another layer of versatility, especially in transition.”
Even with his perimeter shot still a work in progress - Stevenson is shooting just 20% from deep - opponents can’t ignore him out there. That respect opens up space for others, and it’s something UNC’s bigs are noticing.
“The floor spacing is great with him and Caleb,” said Veesaar. “They’re both really good athletes. But the other part is we can switch and give different looks to opponents.”
Stevenson admitted it’s been a while since he’s played the five, but he’s embracing the role. And with conference play looming, his combination of size, mobility, and defensive IQ could be a key piece of the puzzle for a Tar Heels team still molding its identity.
He may not be starting right now, but make no mistake - Jarin Stevenson is playing winning basketball. And if Saturday was any indication, UNC’s ceiling gets a little higher every time he’s on the floor.