UNC employs long time NBA representative Tanner as GM

Jeff BorzelloFeb 25, 2025, 11:06 AM ET

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• Basketball recruiting insider.
• Joined ESPN in 2014.
• Graduate of University of Delaware.North Carolina is employing long time

NBA agent Jim Tanner as its general supervisor for men’s basketball, less than one month after coach Hubert Davis stated that the” old design for Carolina basketball just doesn’t work. “Tanner is the president and creator of Tandem Sports & Entertainment, a firm with a long list of clients in the NBA, WNBA and in the broadcasting area. He is a North Carolina local who graduated from UNC in 1990 before participating in law school at the University of Chicago. Tanner founded Tandem Sports & Entertainment in 2013, going on to represent more than 70 NBA players– consisting of 17 previous UNC players.”Both of my kids and I went to Carolina and we owe even a family to this university,”Tanner said in a declaration Tuesday.” This is such an interesting opportunity and I couldn’t be more delighted. The landscape of college basketball has actually altered dramatically in a brief time period with NIL, collectives and the transfer website. It’s a highly-competitive and constantly-evolving environment. I look forward to using my 28 years of experience recruiting and representing players to help position UNC as tactical, adaptive and ingenious in scouting and drawing in leading domestic and international talent while staying true to the concepts and worths that have defined Carolina Basketball throughout the years.”On Davis ‘radio program earlier this month, the fourth-year head coach revealed that the program was planning to work with a general supervisor and include more assistance staff amid a frustrating season

in Chapel Hill. “The old design for Carolina basketball just does not work, “he stated at the time.”It’s not sustainable. It has to construct out because there’s numerous things in play with NIL, the transfer website,

representatives, global players.”This is the very first GM that UNC has actually employed for guys’s basketball; the school just recently employed previous NFL executive Michael Lombardi as GM for its football program.According to the school, Tanner will aid with lineup building and contract negotiations, while also looking to expand the scouting, analytics and player advancement operations within the program.”I am thrilled and delighted to have Jim join our staff and the UNC family,”Davis stated in Tuesday’s statement.”Jim’s experience and knowledge is needed in assisting us navigate agreements, the transfer website and the advancement of this program.

His resumé speaks for itself and his dedication to this university and neighborhood make him a terrific addition to the Carolina males’s basketball program.”North Carolina beat Florida State on Monday night to enhance to 18-11 overall, 11-6 in the ACC. However the Tar Heels find themselves directly on the bubble heading down the stretch, putting them at danger to miss out on the NCAA tournament for the 2nd time in

3 seasons. Davis has actually found himself under some pressure this season, although the addition of Tanner should assist reconstruct the lineup for what might be a make-or-break campaign.2024 ACC Gamer of the Year RJ Davis will proceed after this season, while freshman Ian Jackson and Drake Powell are one-and-done prospects and could leave early for the NBA draft. The Tar Heels struggled in the transfer website last spring, missing on several huge guy targets before landing Vanderbilt transfer Ven-Allen Lubin, who has just recently revealed consistency down low.