CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Theo Pinson, a perimeter starter on North Carolina's 2017 national championship-winning team, will return to UNC for his senior season. Pinson had submitted his name to the NBA last week to continue to explore his options in advance of the NBA Draft.

The Greensboro, N.C., native averaged 6.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 21 games last year, and had 14 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists in Final Four wins over Oregon and Gonzaga. He made one of the season's key plays when he grabbed an offensive rebound and dribbled out the clock after a missed free throw with seconds to play in the semifinal win over Oregon.

“I'm glad I took the time to explore the NBA Draft process but I am going to play my senior year as a Tar Heel,” says Pinson. “It was a dream of mine to play college basketball at the best school and in the best league in the country, and it is a dream of mine to play in the NBA as well. The best path for me to reach the league and have a long career there is to have a great senior season and I am so excited to have that opportunity to play another year for Coach Williams and finish my degree as well.”

Pinson led Carolina in assists nine times last year and finished the year with 77 assists, more than any other Tar Heel in the 21 games in which he played (he missed 19 games, including the first 16, due to injuries).