Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin offers depth at center for UNC men's basketball

1,143 miles span between South Bend, Ind., Nashville, Tenn., and Chapel Hill, N.C.

Each mile was a point in the college career of transfer forward Ven-Allen Lubin, molding him into a versatile big man out of the transfer portal this summer. 

Head coach Hubert Davis sought out the 6-foot-8 forward to add depth to a UNC lineup lacking in stature. And with former Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey describing Lubin as a positionless player, he's now a tool North Carolina can use while Davis tinkers with his lineup. 

“He can guard the post, he can guard guards out on the perimeter,” Davis said. “His versatility on the offensive end — getting to the offensive glass, running in transition, his ability to shoot the ball from the outside, but also handle and make plays from the perimeter.” 

While at Vanderbilt, Lubin played for one of UNC's most dominant big men in program history, Jerry Stackhouse. There, Lubin averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while leading the Commodores in field goal percentage of 50 percent. Prior to Vanderbilt, he played at Notre Dame for one season and recorded the most blocks on the Fighting Irish's team. Lubin ranked No. 112 in the transfer portal, according to 247 Sports. 

But when Stackhouse was fired after a 9-23 season in 2023, Lubin put his name back in the portal. He said that playing for the Tar Heel legend was an important factor in eventually coming to Chapel Hill. His connection with Stackhouse — someone who knows the atmosphere, coaching staff and standard at UNC — made the decision a lot easier.

“[Hubert] said for me during my visit that he doesn't recruit guys unless he wants and needs them,” Lubin said. “He knows that he sees a great thing in me, and he's always been emphasizing that ever since I visited here.”

Lubin's relationship with first-year guard Ian Jackson also added an extra layer of familiarity to the transition.

The two played together in Hungary for Team USA at the U19 FIBA World Cup in 2023. That experience fostered initial chemistry which the two continued strengthened throughout the fall. 

“I learned a lot from Ven,” Jackson said. “Ven is my dog. I have a huge relationship with [him].” 

Jackson noted how active Lubin is on the court in pursuit of the glass. Fellow forwards, graduate Jae’Lyn Withers and junior Jalen Washington, were also amazed by his athleticism over the summer. 

Withers said Lubin's explosiveness caught him off guard, describing a story from a preseason pickup session. On three consecutive possessions, Withers remembered Lubin calling game with a trio of put-back dunks. 

“It's kind of funny coming from him because he's been the most athletic big that I've seen so far,” Lubin said. 

As for Washington's analysis, he curated a list of characteristics that he's seen Lubin excel in. Things like competitiveness, skill and strength were all attributes that make him tough to guard. It's something Washington loves. Not only because Lubin is his teammate, but also since guarding him in practice makes all the bigs better — a position the Tar Heels need to develop after former center Armando Bacot graduated. 

“I feel like us playing against each other every day, iron sharpens iron,” Washington said, “We can only get better.” 

Regardless of how Davis decides to use Lubin, or to what degree he fits into the rotation, it won't seem to bother the Orlando, Fla., native. Instead, Lubin is grounded in something that transcends the scope of basketball altogether. 

Lubin's faith has given him peace to trust in a greater plan, regardless of where he's played over the last three seasons. 

“The Lord has great plans for me and he has never failed me,” Lubin said, before later adding, “I believe that he is the one that can put me in a position to be great and a position where I can be me. That's my whole journey in life.”

@cadeshoemaker23

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com