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Jarin Stevenson is UNC’s Swiss Army Knife
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- Jarin Stevenson is UNC’s Swiss Army Knife
Jarin Stevenson is North Carolina's glue guy — there's no better way to describe the 6-foot-10 Swiss army knife.
Stevenson's numbers may not show it — he is averaging only 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game — but his versatility makes him invaluable . He can play anywhere from small forward to center and defend both big men and guards. He doesn't care if he's starting or coming off the bench or whether he's at the three, four or five — he puts on his hard hat and does the job at hand.
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On Saturday in the CBS Sports Classic, Stevenson came off the bench but still logged 27 minutes, the fourth most of any Tar Heel, and emerged as an unsung hero in UNC's 71–70 win over Ohio State . His ability to defend every position as a backup center, combined with his rebounding and floor spacing on offense, made him indispensable.
Dec 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jarin Stevenson (15) celebrates after a victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
One sequence summed it up: Stevenson switched onto Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton on a pick-and-roll and kept one of the most dynamic players in the country in front of him. Stevenson finished with six points, five rebounds and two steals. He also came up with a clutch defensive play with 23 seconds left, intercepting a pass in the full-court press that led to North Carolina's game-winning basket seconds later.
"That's one of my biggest traits of things and things that I bring to the team: being able to play multiple positions, guard multiple positions and bring different looks for the team," Stevenson said.
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Stevenson's versatility was constantly mentioned throughout Hubert Davis' press conference after the game.
"(It's) Just huge," Davis said. "I've talked about his versatility…. to have that guy who's 6-foot-9, 6-foot-10, versatile, being able to play in the post and on the outside offensively, but from a defensive standpoint, to be able to switch and play multiple positions, (he's) a huge factor for us."
Stevenson admitted that "it's been a while" since he has played the backup five. But with the way UNC's lineup is taking shape — and with James Brown and Zayden High not yet ready for consistent minutes — his role at that spot could become a vital weapon for Davis and the Tar Heels as they approach conference play. And Stevenson's attitude will only help UNC.
"I'm just focused on whatever I can do to help the team win, whether that's bringing energy off the bench, being consistent and doing different things," Stevenson said.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Jarin Stevenson is Tar Heels' Swiss Army Knife
