Zayden High was a 4 Star Recruit coming out of High school. High was rated a 94.49; he had extreme upside coming out of the Class Of 2023. He committed to play for UNC under Hubert Davis, who was still new in the world of head coaching, but not recruiting.
Zayden was a Freshman when 2 older guys transferred in, Cormac Ryan, a 6th-year player with elite shooting, and Harrison Ingram, who grew into a true glue guy for the Heels. Zayden sat on the bench that season, averaging 4 minutes a game. There simply was not enough playtime to split between Bacot, who was a dark-horse for NPOY, and Ingram, who fans quickly learned was the first guy to help a teammate up and defend a teammate. Zayden truly learned from the best. Coach Hubert Davis was quoted multiple times that season, saying it was “The most fun group he has ever been a part of” or “They just enjoy being around each other.” Which is why it was a shocker for that team to fall in the Sweet 16 to a red-hot Alabama team.
Going into what would have been Zayden High’s Sophomore year, there were a lot of things up in the air: would Zayden step in and take over, or would he sit behind Jalen Washington? However, those expectations were put on hold. Due to an off-court issue back in the fall of 2023, Zayden was no longer allowed to enroll in the University, meaning he was no longer able to be on the team for the 2024-25 season. This hung a massive “What-If” over the Dean Dome
The Team without Zayden had a pretty down season; By Carolina standards, the ensuing 23-14 season felt lackluster. The roster missed the ‘spark plug’ energy of Harrison Ingram and the veteran presence of Armando Bacot, eventually fighting through the ‘First Four’ only to see the season end prematurely against Ole Miss.
The team coming into 2025-26 would gain back what would prove in February to be a vital piece of the puzzle, Zayden High. He would come back to the team but would be buried on the depth chart, behind Caleb Wilson (arguably the greatest freshman in UNC Basketball History), Henri Veesaar, a 7-Footer from Estonia who had transferred from Arizona, and Jarin Stevenson, a Transfer from Alabama. Zayden was relegated to the ‘iron five’ role—earning only mop-up duty in the early months.
Fast forward to playing Pitt in the Dean Smith Center in mid February. Caleb Wilson had broken his hand, and Henri Veesaar was out with Illness and a “Lower Extremity” issue; it was rumored to be a Achillies problem, but the coaching staff did not confirm. So that left us with one option: having to start Zayden High, an unproven talent who was in his Red-shirt Sophomore year. High in his first career start put up a beautiful performance. It wasn’t Caleb Wilson’s 20 points and 10 rebounds, but it was still a solid performance of 15 points and 7 rebounds.
Zayden High was the only highlight in the NC State game, where the team was beaten in every single way without Henri Veesaar. But when Veesaar returned, Zayden truly turned into what I think he can become. He had 9 points and 11 rebounds, truly proving how good our depth could be if Caleb Wilson returns.
Well, against Louisville, Zayden would once again be coming off the bench and this time only having 4 points, but his energy was unmatched. After a huge Derrick Dixon 3, sprinting down the floor, screaming with pure adrenaline while signaling a ‘three’ to the rafters like an official—a moment that perfectly encapsulated the unmatched energy he brings off the bench.
Throughout this stretch of games, Zayden saw his averages skyrocket, his minutes went from under 5 to 24, his points went from 1-2 to 10, and his rebounds went from 1-2 to 8.5. I have seen comparisons saying Zayden reminds them of former bench guys under Dean Smith. Whether he’s being compared to a legend like Scott Williams or the man who mentored him during his freshman year, one thing is certain: Zayden High is channeling the relentless spirit of Harrison Ingram, and he’s doing it exactly when the Tar Heels need it most.
