Jaydon Young enjoys best game at UNC during win over Wake Forest

In any given UNC basketball game this season, you can expect big games from the country's best frontcourt duo: Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar.

Such was the case in Saturday night's closer-than-expected, 87-84 victory over Wake Forest . Wilson recorded his 11th double-double in North Carolina's (14-2, 2-1 ACC) 16th game, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while Veesaar netted a Tar Heels-high (14-2, 2-1 ACC) 25 points and grabbed nine boards.

Saturday night also proved to be a career night for shooting guard Jaydon Young , who enjoyed his game game in a UNC uniform. Young scored 12 points in 19 minutes played, both bests for him in a North Carolina uniform.

After the Tar Heels' win, Young spoke on what tonight's production meant.

“Honestly I think for me, I can produce with my guys, but it’s a little more when everybody’s like cheering for you, the bench is into it, even when there’s guys that are normally out there," Young said. "I think my contribution tonight came from my teammates contributing to me – and me being able to come into practice everyday – and everybody knows what I can do. Everybody’s just keeping me in rhythm.”

Saturday was only Young's fourth time playing double-digit minutes this season, but his third time in North Carolina's past six games. Young's 11 points also proved to be his first points in the New Year, with Young scoreless in four minutes during UNC's 2026 debut at SMU.

With Young providing North Carolina's best offensive spark Saturday night – outside of Wilson and Veesaar – he deserves more playing time going forward.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: 12 points, 19 minutes both UNC bests for Jaydon Young vs. Wake Forest