On Sunday, Cade Tyson sent shockwaves throughout the college basketball landscape after announcing his commitment to the University of North Carolina. The former Carmel Christian star just concluded his second season at Belmont, where he averaged 16.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG while posting 49/47/86 splits and earning All-MVC second team honors. It doesn’t take long to notice that Tyson is an efficient scorer and elite three-point shooter. Between his percentage (46.5%) and volume (5.5 attempts per game), the 6-foot-7 wing/forward should fit like a glove with the Tar Heels. Let’s dive into what he’ll bring to the table…
Upon crunching some numbers and glancing at his analytics, the appeal becomes even more obvious. Last season, Tyson’s percentage from beyond the arc ranked second in the entire NCAA. Here’s the complete list of players in 2023-24 who averaged 16.0 PPG, attempted 170 three-pointers, and shot 46% or higher from beyond the arc: Cade Tyson. Although Koby Brea (another UNC target) ultimately finished the season as the most efficient shooter in college basketball, Tyson has proven himself as a more dynamic, well-rounded player. Between his rebounding and ability to attack the basket (61%), he’s more than just a shooter. In looking at his actual dosage of shots, Tyson mixes it up at a very healthy rate:
Left Wing 3s- 39% (18% of attempts)
Right Wing 3s- 54% (15% of attempts)
Left Corner 3s- 49% (12% of attempts)
He ranks in the 92nd percentile (1.26 PPP) on spot-up jumpers and 95th percentile (1.45 PPP) when scoring on dribble handoff actions. In the end, adding Tyson to a UNC roster that finished the season 77th in the country for three-point percentage (per sports-reference) should have an immediate impact. He should absorb all of Cormac Ryan’s minutes and, theoretically, be much more efficient in the same role. On similar volume, Tyson shot over ten percentage points higher [than Ryan] from beyond the arc. He’s a low-maintenance piece who can find opportunities within the flow of the offensive structure. Tyson is also a solid team defender, especially for someone with his level of shooting. He finished the season as one of only four players who shot 45% from distance with at least 150 attempts while sporting a defensive rating below 107. Among that group, Tyson has more assists, rebounds, blocks, and PER than the other three. All signs point to him being a seamless fit for the Tar Heels.