Former Tar Heel Returns to Face UNC On Saturday

North Carolina will face a former member of its program.

When North Carolina plays Virginia Tech on Saturday, a familiar face will be wearing a Hokies jersey. Former UNC wing Tyler Nickel transferred to Virginia Tech in the offseason and is now set to take on his former team. Will he have a big game? How will the crowd react? Nickel has been solid, and going back to his home state seems to have been a good move for him.

Familiar Face

Nickel committed to North Carolina as a member of the 2022 class. From Virginia, he was a standout high school player, breaking the state record for points. That 2022 class also included Seth Trimble and Jalen Washington, who remain with UNC. Nickel saw limited minutes in his freshman year, averaging just six, while scoring 2.1 points per game.

Making an Impact

After transferring back to his home state, Nickel has found a solid role with the Hokies. He has quadrupled his playing time, averaging 24.7 minutes and scoring nine points per game. As advertised in high school, Nickel is a three-point threat. This season, he is shooting 41.6 percent from behind the arc. It seems that Nickel made the right choice for himself, and is carving out a solid role. Only a sophomore, he will likely be a major contributor for Virginia Tech in the coming years.

The game will start at 2:00 on the ACC Network.

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