If you have a tough time recognizing Michael Malone's first UNC basketball roster, that's by design. North Carolina's head coach constructed most of his squad through the transfer portal, while also adding a few international guys.
Malone aced building his first collegiate roster so well that, according to 247Sports, the Tar Heels' transfer portal class is ranked ninth overall with 33.1 points.
UNC landed three 4-star transfers: combo guards Neoklis Avdalas (Virginia Tech) and Terrence Brown (Utah), plus shooting guard Matt Able (NC State), plus a pair of 3-star transfers in guard Angelo Brizzi (Buffalo) and power forward Cade Bennerman (Northwestern). The 4-stars are expected to start, while Brizzi and Bennerman should play key bench roles.
If
3-star center Cameron Fens (South Dakota) is later deemed eligible, North Carolina's recruiting rankings likely jump further. Fens is currently practicing, but awaiting a ruling in his favor.
The Tar Heels added a couple international big men in Alexandros Samodurov and Sayon Keita, both of whom are expected to split time at center. UNC is deep in the post this season, albeit a lack of collegiate experience, but playing professional internationally will pay dividends.
Michael Malone pulled the No. 9 transfer class in his first offseason at #UNC.
— Grant Hughes (@GrantHughesNC) September 3, 2026
He promises his next haul will be even better…
“Next year's transfer portal will be even better. … That is no knock on who we got. I love what we're able to do in a short period of time.”
Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson is returning for a fourth and final season of college basketball, one in which he'll thrive as a full-time frontcourt star, with NBA hopes on the near horizon. North Carolina will also gain a pair of key returners in guards Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young, while welcoming a 3-man high school recruiting class of Kevin Thomas, Maximo Adams and Malloy Smith.
Your first chance to watch these new-look Tar Heels falls on Friday, October 9 with a preseason clash vs. USC in Greensboro, N.C. Can UNC start the Malone era with a National Championship?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC mens' basketball team lands a Top-10 transfer portal ranking
