Armando Bacot shares his 'welcome to college' moment with Tyler Hansbrough

Even the best players have humbling moments. During an appearance on the “Run Your Race” podcast, former North Carolina standout Armando Bacot revealed his personal “welcome to college” moment, which involved a Tar Heels legend.

“I was playing against [Tyler Hansbrough], and obviously I knew T-Hans was a great player, but I didn’t know he was that physical,” Bacot said. “I went and blocked his shot, then like the next play, he just went through me.

“I had to go to the hospital, stitches, all that. He didn’t say sorry or nothing. He just kept going. I probably said a little something [after I blocked his shot], not knowing who I was fooling with. Honestly, after that, every time I played against T-Hans, I’d give him his space… I ain’t fooling with that.”

Little did Hansbrough know, he had busted open another future UNC star. Bacot spent five seasons with the Tar Heels, amassing 169 career appearances, an ACC record. He started in all but one of the games.

During his tenure at UNC, Bacot tallied 2,347 points, 1,715 rebounds and 216 blocks while shooting 55.2% from the field. He finished his career as UNC’s all-time leader in rebounds, offensive rebounds and double-doubles.

Ironically, Bacot collected the second-most career points in UNC history, only trailing Hansbrough, who is the all-time scoring leader in the ACC. Of course, Bacot had more financial motivation to succeed at UNC than Hansbrough.

Armando Bacot reveals NIL numbers he made at North Carolina

During his time in Chapel Hill, Bacot worked alongside notable companies like Intuit TurboTax, Topps and Wingstop, among several others. Bacot revealed how much money he made in NIL opportunities while at UNC.

“$2 million plus — but I’m saying that humbly, though,” Bacot told Theo Pinson and AJ Richardson on the Run Your Race podcast. “But that speaks on a brand of Carolina because if I didn’t go to Carolina, doing deals with Turbo Tax all those people, I go to Carolina so I’m able to. 

“Like when you go to Carolina, like recruits, everything, you go to Carolina and you handle business, you go out there and play, somewhat be marketable and stuff like that. It pays.I can never say a bad word about Carolina everything because I’ve got life-changing money just in college playing basketball. Life-changing money. I’m forever thankful Carolina brand because to be able to make over $2 million, just in college. It’s crazy.”