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UNC squeezes out dramatic 14-inning marathon win to even series at Clemson
North Carolina has made a habit of endurance tests of late, and Saturday demanded nearly five full hours of patience, pitching and drama before squeezing out just enough execution at the end.
The No. 6 Tar Heels survived their second 14-inning marathon in 12 days, outlasting Clemson 6–4 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium to even the series heading into Sunday’s series-deciding 12:30 p.m. finale (ESPN2).
Former UNC guard Powell commits to Pittsburgh
After spending freshman season at West Virginia, former UNC guard Jonathan Powell is transferring to Pittsburgh, the Mountaineers’ arch rival. Powell made the announcement in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday evening. It was Pitt’s second commitment of the day after former BYU forward Dominique Diomande committed to the Panthers.
Former Syracuse guard Burrows commits to Tar Heels
It’s been a productive recruiting weekend for Coach Courtney Banghart. For the second time in less than 24 hours, she has snagged a rising senior star out of the transfer portal, this time Syracuse guard Sophie Burrows, who made an official visit this weekend. The 6–2 guard announced her commitment in an Instagram post, saying, “Let’s get it!”
Bogavac enters transfer portal after only one season at UNC
Luka Bogavac is entering the transfer portal after only one season at Carolina, according to multiple reports. The 6–6 Montenegrin made the decision on Saturday, just days after telling TarHeel247 that he was staying. The UNC players had meetings with Coach Michael Malone later in the week, though, and that could explain the change.
Former Notre Dame guard Haralson has UNC on his final three list
Former Notre Dame combo guard Jalen Haralson has drawn plenty of interest since announcing on April 2 that he would enter the transfer portal. CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported Saturday that Haralson has cut his list to North Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio State in a race for one of the most productive freshmen to hit the portal this cycle.
UNC portal target Avdalas, former Virginia Tech player, has skills that have been compared to Dončić
Among Carolina’s transfer-portal targets is a 6–9 guard with a fascinating skill set. Neoklis Avdalas arrived at Virginia Tech from Kalamata, Greece, as the second-highest-rated recruit in program history with an international résumé and the belief that his size-plus-creation package could translate quickly in the ACC.
Versatile former Oklahoma State post player Akot commits to Carolina
After a breakout junior season at Oklahoma State, forward Achol Akot committed to North Carolina on Friday during a visit to Chapel Hill. Akot, who played her first two seasons at UCF, announced the decision on her Instagram account late Friday night. The versatile 6–1 forward will help fill the void left by the loss of senior forward Nyla Harris.
Jaydon Young reportedly will return for senior season at UNC
Jaydon Young will return for his senior season at North Carolina. On Monday, Young posted on Instagram an On3 report that he intended to enter the transfer portal, but On3’s Joe Tipton reported on Friday night that he withdraw his name and will return. That reduces the number of Tar Heels in the transfer portal to six.
Shot-blocking Alabama center Sherrell one UNC transfer portal target
One of North Carolina’s first transfer-portal swings under Coach Michael Malone has taken aim at a shot-blocker with SEC production and an already familiar face in Carolina blue. Multiple reports have indicated that UNC has been in contact with Alabama sophomore center Aiden Sherrell, a 6–11 big man who emerged as one of the league’s most disruptive interior defenders while averaging 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
Malone was on path to being Secret Service agent before Gillen offered him coaching job
Michael Malone was on track to become a Secret Service agent when a low-paying, entry-level college job set him on the path to coaching stardom. That’s one of the interesting stories from a 2020 NBA.com interview with his late father, Brendan Malone, an accomplished coach who was instrumental in developing the “Jordan rules” during his days on the Detroit Pistons coaching staff.
Malone doesn’t want to ‘Be Like Mike,’ preferring ‘Michael’
If a Carolina player wanted to “Be Like Mike,” Tar Heels coach Michael Malone would undoubtedly be delighted if they played like Michael Jordan. Just don’t call him Mike.
Former UNC guard Lanie Grant commits to TCU
Eight days after announcing that she would enter the transfer portal, former UNC guard Lanie Grant has committed to TCU. She made the announcement Thursday night in an X post, saying she was going, “Where the West begins.” Grant nearly entered the portal last offseason but changed her mind.
Nuggets fans celebrate date of Malone’s bold move in 2016 to start Jokić as ‘Jokmas’
Nikola Jokić’s rise to stardom began with what seemed like a bold coaching move at the time by Michael Malone. Jokić was a second-round pick and was playing behind first-round pick Jusuf Nurkić when the Denver Nuggets’ coach went against conventional NBA logic in a decision that reshaped the franchise and Jokić’s career.
Nuggets coach says Malone ‘perfect’ for job; Jokić says Heels will play ‘right way’
Michael Malone got overwhelming support from the coach who succeeded him with the Denver Nuggets and the star that helped him win an NBA title. Nuggets head coach David Adelman, who succeeded Malone late in the 2024–25 season, said he was happy to hear the news that Malone was becoming North Carolina’s coach.
Malone expected to make Chuck Martin, noted as excellent recruiter, his associate head coach
Michael Malone’s first North Carolina staff move is a familiar one for anyone who has tracked John Calipari’s recruiting machine over the past two decades. Arkansas assistant Chuck Martin, the Razorbacks’ recruiting coordinator and one of Calipari’s long-trusted lieutenants, is expected to join Malone in Chapel Hill as UNC’s associate head coach, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.