Armando Bacot

Armando Linwood Bacot Jr., born on March 6, 2000, is a talented American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. His remarkable athletic prowess was cultivated during his time as a collegiate player for the famous North Carolina Tar Heels. His five-year career stands out due to his record-breaking 171 appearances, earning him the distinction of holding the program’s records for both double-doubles and career rebounds.

Bacot’s journey towards becoming a professional basketball player traces back to his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. He attended Trinity Episcopal School where he made a name for himself on the court. His undeniable skills were apparent as early as his sophomore year when he averaged 11.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. These impressive stats went onto to dramatically improve in his junior year, with an average of 24.5 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Prior to his senior year, Bacot decided to seize the opportunity to refine and improve his skills by transferring to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. In his senior year, he continued to display his prowess on the court by averaging 12.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Bacot’s impressive performances were recognized when he played in both the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game and the 2019 Jordan Brand Classic.

His exceptional abilities, coupled with his refined skills, attracted the attention of various collegiate basketball scouts. ESPN and Rivals both ranked Bacot as a five-star recruit for the class of 2019, while 247Sports deemed him a four-star recruit. The sought-after athlete had offers from numerous esteemed schools, including Duke, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Villanova, and VCU. However, Bacot decided to commit to the University of North Carolina on August 16, 2018.

As a Tar Heel freshman, Bacot had an exceptional first season. One of his standout performances occurred on November 20, 2019, where he had 22 points and 14 rebounds, contributing to a 75–61 win against Elon. He had to overcome an ankle injury, but he returned to his top form quickly. As a sophomore, he continued his impressive run by averaging 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, shooting 62.8% from the floor. His solid performances earned him the title of All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) third team.

Bacot chose to return to North Carolina for his junior and senior years after briefly considering entering the 2021 NBA draft. As team captain, Bacot snatched 23 double-doubles in the regular season, equalizing the UNC single-season record held by Brice Johnson. Bacot also surpassed Tim Duncan’s ACC single-season record with his 29th double-double and recorded the most rebounds in a single ACC season, making NCAA history.

Despite the disappointing 23–10 record in Bacot’s senior year, he excelled personally, garnering first-team All-ACC honors and being named third team All-America. His performance earned him the distinction of surpassing two significant records: most rebounds in a UNC career (surpassing Tyler Hansbrough) and most double-doubles in UNC’s program history (surpassing Billy Cunningham).

After his illustrious college career, Armando was undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft. However, he joined the Utah Jazz for the NBA Summer League, impressing onlookers enough to earn a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Following that brief stint, he then joined the G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle where he continues to make his mark.

In addition to his impressive domestic career, Armando has also competed internationally. In 2018, he represented the United States at the FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship, where he averaged 7.8 points and five rebounds, helping his team secure the gold medal.

Off the court, Armando made a cameo appearance in a season three episode of Netflix’s popular series, Outer Banks, in 2023. His charismatic and multi-faceted personality, both on and off the court, has cemented his name in the world of basketball. With many years of his career still ahead, it is evident that Bacot will continue to captivate audiences with his stellar performances in the basketball world.