UNC Basketball: What Each Projected 2015-16 Starter Brings to the Table

Nothing is guaranteed in sports, but North Carolina will head into the 2015-16 college basketball season with one of the top lineups in the nation.

Roy Williams and company will enter the year with four returning starters, each of whom has the potential to be an all-conference-level player and possibly a future pro. Adding any number of key contributors to this core will create what should be a complete lineup.

Every player on the floor will bring his own strengths to the table and do what he can to help the Tar Heels contend for a national championship.

Although the official starting lineup won't be known until November, here is a projection for the opening game as well as a breakdown of the top traits for each athlete.

PG Marcus Paige: Outside Shooting

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Marcus Paige has a wide offensive skill set that allowed him to lead the team in scoring each of the past two seasons. Still, his best attribute is his shooting, which is extremely necessary on a team that doesn't otherwise have a lot of outside shooters.

Paige led all Tar Heels with a 39.5 percent mark from three-point range last season. Most incredibly, his 94 made three-pointers were more than anyone else on the team even attempted.

Between Justin Jackson's struggles from deep and Nate Britt's inconsistent playing time, Paige was often the only one on the floor who was even a threat to shoot from the outside.

This could change during the 2015-16 season with the addition of freshman Kenny Williams and the potential improvement of other guards. That said, Paige's ability to make shots from long range and spread the floor will remain very important for the success of the squad.

SG Justin Jackson: Creating His Own Shot

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Few players improved over the course of the season more than Justin Jackson. After an up-and-down start to the year, he finished with double-digit points in 11 of his final 12 games, including a 22-point showing against a tough Virginia defense.

Jackson is an ideal NBA shooting guard with great size (6'8") and the ability to create looks for himself. This skill could be extremely important if the offense goes cold around him or the defense matches up well.

Former NBA star John Lucas has been working with Jackson this offseason and expects a big sophomore season.

"I see the potential. I think he’ll have a better year this year, without a doubt. ... I think he’s going to be a star," he told Sherrell McMillan of Scout.com.

His ability to score either as a slasher or pulling up for jump shots will take some of the pressure off Paige and help keep the Tar Heels more balanced offensively.

SF Theo Pinson: Perimeter Defense

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Head coach Roy Williams will have a few options to replace the departed J.P. Tokoto in the starting lineup. One option is to go small with either Joel Berry or Nate Britt at point guard while moving Marcus Paige to the 2 spot.

However, the most reasonable decision could be simply replacing Tokoto with the most similar player remaining on the roster.

Pinson averaged only 12.5 minutes in just 24 games this past year, but he showed flashes of brilliance when on the floor. He has good athleticism and the length necessary to become the team's primary defender on the perimeter.

According to Sports-Reference, Pinson finished last season with a defensive rating of 96.7 (100 is average, and lower is better). This was even better than Tokoto and trailed only Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks for the team lead.

Like many Tar Heels teams in the past, the 2014-15 squad was more advanced offensively than defensively. If North Carolina wants to contend for a championship next year, players such as Pinson will have to improve on the defensive end.

PF Brice Johnson: Inside Scoring

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College basketball has generally shifted away from back-to-the-basket scorers. Instead, it is becoming more of a guard-oriented game across the country. The success of Jahlil Okafor, Frank Kaminsky and others last season, however, shows that a good low-post player can really dominate.

Brice Johnson has that ability with the athleticism and quickness to run the floor and score on fast breaks as well as the technique to win one-on-one battles inside.

He averaged just 12.9 points per game last season but scored at least 18 points 11 different times. If he finds more consistency, he has the potential to be an All-American.

Either way, Johnson is an elite inside scorer who will carry North Carolina to a lot of wins next year.

C Kennedy Meeks: Rebounding

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Kennedy Meeks improved his numbers from his freshman to sophomore year, averaging 11.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this past season. The key was his ability to get in shape and play more and consistent minutes.

Unfortunately, his rebounding percentages have dropped from two years ago. According to KenPom.com, Meeks ranked 10th in the nation as a freshman with a 15.6 offensive rebounding percentage, while his 24.9 defensive rebounding percentage was 37th. This past year, he ranked just 71st and 109th, respectively.

If he can combine his aggressiveness from his first season with the increased playing time from his second, Meeks will be a double-double threat every single game.

Either way, the 6'9", 280-pound forward will be a force to be reckoned with for opposing big men all year long.

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