By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina’s search for more frontcourt help has mostly focused on overseas talent, but the Tar Heels are one of a few programs targeting an elite shot-blocker in the transfer portal.
Former Florida Atlantic center Devin Williams is 6–10, 210 pounds, and averaged 2.6 blocks per game last season as a redshirt sophomore. He visited Arizona this week and, in addition to UNC, has heard from Virginia Tech and Oklahoma.
At 22, he would give Carolina an older frontcourt newcomer to go with a young group that includes freshmen Maximo Adams (18) and Sayon Keita (18), as well as former Northwestern center Cade Bennerman (19).
Williams averaged 7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 51% from the floor last season.
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
He was fifth in the country in blocks per game and seventh in total blocks (85). His 11.1% block rate is in the 98th percentile, which helps explain why coaches see a ready-made interior defensive anchor.
Williams blocked at least three shots 16 times last season, at least four in nine games, at least five in five games and blocked seven shots twice: when he had 12 points on Jan. 11 in an 89–78 win over Memphis, and when he collected eight points and 11 rebounds on Feb. 18 in a 60–52 win at UTSA.
He scored in double-figures 11 times last season, with a career-high 15 in an 83–81 overtime loss Feb. 15 against South Florida.
As a freshman at UCLA, he played sparingly, appearing in 10 games before redshirting in 2024-25. He later spoke about what that environment asked of him, both on the court and in the daily grind.
“I learned a lot for sure,” Williams said of his two seasons at UCLA. “Being around [Coach] Mick Cronin, who is one of the best coaches ever, I learned a lot on the floor, off the floor, how to be a better professional. I learned a lot from him.”
Last season at FAU, he became a possession-altering shot-blocker with timing that repeatedly erased layups, floaters and late-clock attempts.
Williams is not a volume scorer, but he has been described as a lob threat, and his numbers suggest he can finish efficiently around the basket while also spacing selectively.
Williams made 30.6% of his 3-point attempts, meaning he has the potential to stretch the floor. He described himself as a player who could blend several roles rather than being locked into one.
“I can do a little bit of everything,” Williams said in a 2022 story. “Shoot off the dribble, shoot off the catch, defend the rim, push the break, rebound the ball on both ends, and finish over the rim.”
UNC is in the mix, and so are other programs that view a high-level shot-blocker as one of the quickest ways to raise a defense’s floor.
Roster assuming all players with eligibility other than Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar and the seven players who entered the transfer portal return, which would put UNC three under the 15-player limit. The class for next season is listed.
| No./ Stars | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 star | Freshman | Maximo Adams | SF | 6–7 | 205 |
| 3 star | Freshman | Malloy Smith | CG | 6–5 | 190 |
| 5 star | Freshman | Sayon Keita | C | 7–0 | 215 |
| RS freshman | Cade Bennerman — W | C | 7–0 | 205 | |
| Sophomore | Neoklis Avdalas — X | G | 6–9 | 215 | |
| Sophomore | Isaiah Denis | G | 6–4 | 180 | |
| Sophomore | Matt Able — Y | G | 6–6 | 205 | |
| Senior | Terrence Brown — Z | G | 6–3 | 174 | |
| 4 | Senior | Jaydon Young | G | 6–4 | 200 |
| 15 | Senior | Jarin Stevenson | 4 | 6–10 | 215 |
| Walk-ons | |||||
| 25 | Junior | John Holbrook | 4 | 6–8 | 230 |
| 32 | Senior | Evan Smith | 2 | 6–1 | 195 |
W — Northwestern transfer. X — Virginia Tech transfer; Y — N.C. State transfer; Z — Utah transfer
In transfer portal
| Player | Class next season | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Bogavac | Senior | W | 6–6 | 215 | Oklahoma State |
| James Brown | Senior | C | 6–10 | 240 | Howard |
| Derek Dixon | Sophomore | G | 6–5 | 200 | Arizona |
| Kyan Evans | Senior | G | 6–2 | 175 | Minnesota |
| Zayden High | Junior | C | 6–10 | 230 | South Florida |
| Jonathan Powell | Junior | G | 6–6 | 190 | Pittsburgh |
| Ivan Matlekovic | Junior | C | 7–0 | 255 |
Key offseason dates
May 8–10 — G League Combine in Chicago
May 10 — NBA Draft Lottery
May 10–17 — NBA Draft Combine in Chicago
May 27 (11:59 p.m.) — NCAA early-entry withdrawal deadline
June 13 — Deadline for international players to withdraw from NBA draft and maintain college eligibility
June 23–24 — NBA draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn
Nonconference schedule so far
(Other than the ACC/SEC Challenge, games without links revealed from reporting by Alex Rosinski)
(10 of 14 games)
Nov. 2 — vs. Western Carolina
Nov. 6 — vs. Wofford
Nov. 10 — vs. Wyoming
Nov. 13 — vs. Georgia
Nov. 20 — vs. Marshall
Dec. 1 or 2 — vs. SEC team in ACC/SEC Challenge
Dec. 12 — at Georgetown
Dec. 19 — vs. Kentucky in CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden
Dec. 21 — vs. The Citadel
November or December — vs. Butler
Photo via fausports.com
