Which NBA team did Cormac Ryan sign with?
The 2023-2024 UNC men’s basketball team was something special. You can argue that, barring a Sweet 16 collapse against Alabama, North Carolina was on track to win its seventh National Championship.
One key cog on that Tar Heels squad was Cormac Ryan, a wing who transferred in from Notre Dame during the offseason. Ryan brought instant offense to UNC, highlighted by his perimeter shooting (75 made) and free throw abilities (87.4 percent).
Ryan will now get another crack at making an NBA roster. On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks announced they signed Ryan.
This isn’t Ryan’s first rodeo in Wisconsin, as he played with Milwaukee in Summer League action. In five appearances with the Bucks, Ryan averaged 23.1 minutes, 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Ryan didn’t hear his named called in the 2024 NBA Draft, but spent his first professional basketball season with the Oklahoma City Blue. In 37 games (17 starts) with the reigning NBA Champions’ G-League affiliate, Ryan averaged 27.4 minutes, 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2 assists per game.
What North Carolina lacked in Ryan at the wing last season, it gained in Drake Powell, the latter of whom went 22nd overall in June’s NBA Draft. Whereas the strength of Ryan’s game lies in his shooting abilities, Powell is more of a 5-tool player that helped the Tar Heels’ late-season surge to the Big Dance.
Looking ahead at Milwaukee’s depth chart, Ryan’s best chance to make his first NBA regular-season roster lies at shooting guard. Former Duke guard Gary Trent Jr. is locked in as the starter, but experienced depth thins behind him.
Will the former UNC sharpshooter stay with the Bucks this fall, find himself on another NBA roster, or back in the G-League?