CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — ‘Mando’s returning.
All-American center Armando Bacot said Wednesday that he will return for the 2023-24 season.
The all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles for the North Carolina Tar Heels told Stadium he “felt it was the right decision for my future. … The primary reason I am coming back is because I don’t want to leave North Carolina this way. But I also know I need to improve and feel like this is the best place to do that.”
Armando Bacot #5 of the UNC Tar Heels drives to the basket against the Elon Phoenix during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 20, 2019 in Chapel Hill. North Carolina won 75-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) 
UNC’s Armando Bacot (5) tries to control the ball against Wofford’s Donovan Theme-Love (31) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) 
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 20: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels takes a rebound away from Chuck Hannah #1 of the Elon Phoenix during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 20, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) 
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 04: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after being injured during the first half of their game against the Ohio State Buckeyesat the Dean Smith Center on December 04, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) 
North Carolina guard Christian Keeling looks to pass while forward Armando Bacot, right, defends against Duke forward Javin DeLaurier (12) and forward Wendell Moore Jr. during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) 
North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) drives the ball to the basket past UNLV forward Reece Brown (15) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Maui Invitational tournament, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, in Asheville, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek) 
Syracuse forward Elijah Hughes (33) and forward Quincy Guerrier (1) block North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Wednesday, March 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) 
North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) is pressured by North Carolina Central forward Jahnathan Maxwell (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) 
North Carolina’s Armando Bacot (5) dunks the ball over Kentucky’s Jacob Toppin (0) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Cleveland. North Carolina won 75-63. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) 
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 20: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dunks against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 20, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 80-73. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) 
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 10: Armando Bacot #5 and Day’Ron Sharpe #11 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react following a basket during the second half of their second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 10, 2021 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) 
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 12: Day’Ron Sharpe #11 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts with his teammates Anthony Harris #0 and Armando Bacot #5 following a basket during the second half of their semifinals game against the Florida State Seminoles in the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 12, 2021 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) 
Sean May, North Carolina’s director of operations, talks with Garrison Brooks (15) and Armando Bacot (5) prior to the Tar Heels’ game against Marquette on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP) 
North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) shoots while North Carolina Asheville forward Drew Pember defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) 
North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) dunks while Michigan guard Eli Brooks (55) and center Hunter Dickinson look on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) 
North Carolina’s Armando Bacot, left, goes for a rebound with Louisville’s Malik Williams, right, during the second half of UNC’s 70-63 victory over Louisville at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Feb. 21, 2022./The News & Observer via AP) 
North Carolina’s Armando Bacot reacts during the first half of a college basketball game against St. Peter’s in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) 
North Carolina guard R.J. Davis (4) and forward Armando Bacot (5) celebrate in the second half of a second-round game against Baylor in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, March, 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) 
North Carolina State guard Breon Pass (10) and North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) struggle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) 
North Carolina’s Armando Bacot dunks during the first half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Appalachian State in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) 
North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) drives in against Boston College forward Quinten Post, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) 
North Carolina State forward D.J. Burns Jr., left, and North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) 
Pittsburgh guard Jamarius Burton (11) drives in against North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) during the second half ofan NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) 
Miami guard Wooga Poplar (55) and forward Norchad Omier (15) battle North Carolina guard Caleb Love (2) and forward Armando Bacot (5) for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) 
North Carolina’s Armando Bacot, top right, and Notre Dame’s Cormac Ryan reach for a rebound next to Notre Dame’s Nate Laszewski (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina) 
North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) shoots against Boston College guard Makai Ashton-Langford (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) 
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 04: Armando Bacot #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives to the basket against Mitch Lightfoot #44 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship game at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Handout/NCAA Photos via Getty Images).
Bacot is a two-time first-team All-ACC selection and was named to the All-American third team by the Associated Press.
This comes the same day that UNC reserve guard Donovan “Puff” Johnson announced that he will enter the transfer portal.
Bacot is playing next season because of the extra year that was given to student-athletes after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
