REPORT: 5-star transfer portal departure could spell the end for Hubert Davis at North Carolina
Hubert Davis is entering the 2025–26 season under serious pressure, and with Ian Jackson now joining Elliot Cadeau in leaving the program, it’s starting to look like things may be beyond repair in Chapel Hill.
While Davis was rumored to be on the hot seat last season, a strong finish, a surprising NCAA Tournament berth, and the reveal of a previously unannounced contract extension gave him a bit of breathing room. But the latest blow—Jackson entering the transfer portal—might be the final straw. With multiple high-profile players departing, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to envision a path forward for Davis at North Carolina.
Since his impressive debut season that ended in a Final Four appearance, Davis’s teams have failed to live up to expectations. UNC missed the tournament in 2023, secured a No. 1 seed in 2024 only to fall in the Sweet 16, and most recently exited after a First Four win over San Diego State. And while the on-court results have been disappointing, this offseason—marked by high-profile transfers—might be doing even more damage.
North Carolina guard Ian Jackson enters transfer portal
Ian Jackson, a five-star recruit from the 2024 class, thrived this past season alongside RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau, averaging 11.9 points while shooting an efficient 46% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. But with Jackson now entering the transfer portal, all three key pieces of Hubert Davis’s standout backcourt are officially gone. Davis has exhausted his eligibility after a storied five-year run in Chapel Hill, and Cadeau has already transferred to Michigan following two seasons with the Tar Heels.
Jackson was expected to be a cornerstone for the program moving forward after an encouraging freshman campaign in the ACC. Instead, Davis is left scrambling to find a new focal point to potentially salvage his tenure. While he’s made a couple of notable additions through the portal—landing Arizona’s developing big man Henri Veesaar and West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell—the loss of Jackson’s offensive punch will be difficult to replace.
Unless Davis can secure one of the few remaining high-impact transfers still available, UNC will have to turn to its incoming freshman class to carry the load. That group is led by Caleb Wilson, a five-star forward who chose the Tar Heels over Kentucky and is ranked No. 6 nationally in the 2025 class per 247Sports Composite. He’ll be joined by four-star prospects Isaiah Denis and Derek Dixon, giving Davis the No. 5 recruiting class in the country.
Throughout his tenure, Davis has relied heavily on experienced stars like RJ Davis and Armando Bacot. Now, with his seat hotter than ever, he’ll need his young talent to deliver immediately. That was already true before Jackson’s exit—but now, with another top player gone, many North Carolina fans may already be looking ahead to who might replace Davis on the bench.