North Carolina Basketball: How Good Will James Michael McAdoo Be in 2012-13?

James Michael McAdoo gave the college basketball world a glimpse during the 2012 NCAA Tournament of how good he could be.

Through most of his freshman year at North Carolina, McAdoo struggled to make much of a contribution to the Tar Heels' 32-6 season.

However, as McAdoo's role expanded after John Henson's sprained left wrist injury, the 6'9" 220 lbs PF stepped up and averaged 12 ppg in the NCAA Tournament, more than twice as much as his season's average (5.9 ppg).

He scored a season-high 15 points against Kansas in the Midwest Regional final.

This week, McAdoo announced that he will return to North Carolina for his sophomore season.

He will go from being the first player off of Roy Williams' bench to the featured player in the Tar Heels 2012-13 attack.

McAdoo came to Chapel Hill with a big-time rep after earning  co-MVP honors (with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist) at the 2011 McDonald's All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic (26 points, 14 rebounds) in Charlotte.

He was ESPN.com's Class of 2011 No. 6 player in the nation.

When North Carolina takes the court next year, McAdoo will line up alongside returning players, such as Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald, P.J. Hairston, and Reggie Bullock, and newcomers Marcus Paige (ESPN.com's No. 1), Brice Johnson, J.P Tokoto and Joel James.

The young star-in-the-making realizes, after playing behind and watching Tyler Zeller and John Henson this past year, that working hard in the off-season and during practice is the key to having a break-out season in 2012-13.

Look for McAdoo to add some bulk to his already-sculpted physique.

Thomas Robinson came off the bench for Kansas in 2010-11, backing up the Morris twins. This past season, Robinson dominated the Big 12 and college basketball with his elite-level skills and athleticism.

In the same way, it will not be a surprise if McAdoo is one of the Top 5 players in college hoops in 2012-13.