By R.L. Bynum
Coach Michael Malone got the physical center he needed to complete his first roster at UNC when South Dakota 7-footer Cameron Fens committed to the Tar Heels on Friday.
The 255-pound Fens made the announcement in an Instagram post.
“One of the most surreal moments of my life. Humbled to wear Carolina Blue and represent this university. Excited to get to work. Go Heels! AGTG🙏,” he posted.
Fens was one of the players who just finished his senior season and was granted a fifth season of eligibility by a decision that came down on July 31. U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Colorado ruled that all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted their fourth season of college eligibility this spring are eligible for a fifth season in 2026–27. There are appeals that could change that eligibility, though.
UNC had also been in contact with Florida’s Micah Handlogten and Villanova’s Duke Brennan.
Fens joins a frontcourt that includes 6–11 Alexandros Samodurov, 7–0 Northwestern transfer Cade Bennerman and 7–0 Sayon Keita. Fens gives Malone some rotation flexibility, with Jarin Stevenson also able to play in the frontcourt.
Fens, who is from Dubuque, Iowa, set Hempstead High School’s single-season rebounding record with 272 boards as a senior, when he averaged a double-double at 18.7 points and 11.3 rebounds and earned first-team all-state and all-conference honors.
He spent his first two college seasons at UIC, appearing in 53 games with 15 starts, before transferring to South Dakota ahead of the 2024–25 season. His first year at South Dakota was cut short by injury after 19 games, though he still averaged 8.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while shooting 56.8% from the floor.
He broke out fully as a senior this past season, starting all 32 games and earning All-Summit League First Team and All-Defensive Team honors. In conference play, Fens averaged 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds, the only player in the Summit League to post a double-double average against league opponents.
He ranked seventh in the conference in scoring and first in rebounding while shooting 60.9% from the field. For the season overall, he finished at 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
His best career game came last season on Jan. 15 in a 99-83 victory over Kansas City when he collected 31 points and 15 rebounds, both career-highs, and made 11 of 14 free throws (a career free-throw high), with three blocks. That was one of 13 career double-doubles, all coming last season.
He blocked a career-high four shots three times, twice last season and once in the 2022-23 season with UIC.
One clear weakness is free-throw shooting. He has shot 56.8% from the line for his career and shot 58.5% last season. Fens missed his only career 3-point attempt.
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| No. | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Freshman | Maximo Adams (MAX-ih-mo) | F | 6–7 | 220 |
| 30 | Freshman | Malloy Smith | G | 6–5 | 180 |
| 21 | Freshman | Sayon Keita (SIGH-on KAY-tuh) | C | 7–0 | 205 |
| 5 | Freshman | Kevin Thomas | W | 6–6 | 205 |
| 35 | Sophomore | Cade Bennerman — U | C | 7–0 | 205 |
| 17 | Sophomore | Neo Avdalas — W (NEE-oh ahv-DOLL-lus) | G | 6–9 | 220 |
| 2 | Sophomore | Isaiah Denis | G | 6–4 | 185 |
| 3 | Sophomore | Matt Able — X | G | 6–5 | 200 |
| 22 | Junior | Alex Samodurov (SAH-muh-DUHR-off) | C | 6–11 | 225 |
| 1 | Senior | Terrence Brown — Y | G | 6–3 | 180 |
| 4 | Senior | Jaydon Young (JAY-din) | G | 6–4 | 200 |
| 15 | Senior | Jarin Stevenson (JARE-in) | F | 6–10 | 220 |
| 14 | Graduate | Angelo Brizzi — Z (BRIZZ-ee) | G | 6–3 | 200 |
| 54 | Graduate | Cameron Fens — V (Fenz) | C | 7–0 | 255 |
| Walk-ons | |||||
| 99 | Junior | John Holbrook — SA | F | 6–8 | 230 |
| 32 | Senior | Evan Smith | G | 6–1 | 200 |
V — South Dakota transfer; U — Northwestern transfer; W — Virginia Tech transfer; X — N.C. State transfer; Y — Utah transfer; Z — Buffalo transfer; SA — Holbrook is a designated student-athlete, so he doesn’t count against UNC’s 15-player limit.
Coach Michael Malone’s coaching staff — Associate head coach Chuck Martin; assistant coaches Bryan Tibaldi (tih-BALL-dee), Sean May, Jorge Sanz (HOR-hey sahnth), Pat Sullivan and Brandon Robinson; Director of player development Deon Thompson.
Former players at other schools
| Player | Class | 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 | Pacific |
UNC schedule
| Date | Month/day | Opponent/event (final ranks) |
|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |
| 9 | 7 p.m. Friday, ACCN | vs. USC in Greensboro |
| 18 | 5 p.m. Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis |
| 27 | 7:30 Tuesday, ACCN Extra | vs. Charlotte |
| November | Regular season | |
| 2 | Monday | vs. Western Carolina |
| 6 | Friday | vs. Wofford |
| 10 | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming |
| 13 | Friday | vs. Georgia |
| 20 | Friday | vs. Marshall |
| 23 | Monday | vs. Monmouth |
| 27 | Friday, 7 p.m. | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte |
| December | ||
| 1 | Tuesday, 7:30, ESPN2 | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 13 Arkansas |
| 6 | Sunday | vs. Butler |
| 12 | Saturday afternoon | at Georgetown |
| 15 | 7 p.m. Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro |
| 19 | 2:30 Saturday, CBS | CBS Sports Classic vs. Kentucky in New York |
| 21 | Monday | vs. The Citadel |
| 30 | Wednesday | vs. California |
| January | ||
| 2 | Saturday | at Boston College |
| 5 | 7 p.m. Tuesday | at Louisville |
| 9 | Saturday | vs. N.C. State |
| 13 | Wednesday | at Florida State |
| 16 | Saturday | vs. Stanford |
| 19 | Tuesday | vs. No. 17 Virginia |
| 23 | Saturday | at Syracuse |
| 26 | Tuesday | vs. SMU |
| 30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 5 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. |
| February | ||
| 2 | Tuesday | at Notre Dame |
| 6 | Saturday | vs. Georgia Tech |
| 8 | Monday, 7 p.m, ESPN | vs. Louisville |
| 13 | Saturday | at No. 4 Duke |
| 20 | Saturday | at Wake Forest |
| 22 | Monday, 7 p.m, ESPN | vs. No. 24 Miami |
| 27 | Saturday | at Virginia Tech |
| March | ||
| 2 | Tuesday | at Pittsburgh |
| 6 | Saturday | vs. No. 4 Duke |
| 9–13 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament in Greensboro |
Photo via goyotes.com
