By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — Kevin Thomas thought his recruitment was over.
The 6–6, 205-pound wing had committed to LSU, canceled a planned visit to Auburn and was preparing for the next step in his basketball career. Then a coaching change at LSU wiped out that plan and forced him to start over.
The reset eventually brought Thomas to Chapel Hill, where the freshman made his debut in a Carolina uniform Friday in an 88–70 exhibition win over Southern Cal in Greensboro. But getting to UNC meant rebuilding relationships, revisiting schools and working through a stretch he described as a drought.
Contact with Carolina assistant Sean May and Coach Michael Malone changed that.
“When that coaching change happened, it was like a drought for me,” Thomas said. “So I just had to keep my head down, keep working, go to other camps, and then North Carolina came up, and Sean May recruited me, and then Malone texted me wanting me to come on a visit.”
The challenge went beyond finding another school. Thomas had to repeat the steps he had already taken, visiting campuses and building relationships with coaches who were getting to know him for the first time.
“It was just a hard feeling knowing that I had to do all the steps again, like go on visits and everything,” he said. “Coaches reaching out to me, building new relationships. That was something I had to build up again.”
North Carolina won him over with its coaching staff and championship history. Michael Malone, the Tar Heels’ first-year coach, brought NBA experience, while the assistants who joined Thomas on his visit had each won a national championship at UNC.
“Knowing that he’s been in the NBA, somewhere I want to get, and all the other coaches that were on the visit with me, they all won a national championship here,” Thomas said. “So I just wanted to be a part of that whole winning group.”
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Thomas also leaned on Matt Able, his former teammate at Sagemont, who understood what it was like to have a recruiting plan fall apart. Able had committed to Miami before decommitting and choosing NC State. He helped Thomas navigate the uncertainty, offering reassurance from his own experience. Thomas didn’t expect their paths to cross again at UNC.
“He decommitted from Miami and then he went to NC State,” Thomas said. “So he was talking me through that whole process, telling me I’m gonna be good and everything. And I didn’t know he was gonna come back, so just him uplifting me throughout that whole process, that really meant something to me.”
Reuniting with Able has given Thomas a familiar face as he adjusts to college basketball. He said their existing connection has helped him build confidence in practice, while Able’s experience has made him a valuable teammate.
“I played with Matt, so having that connection with him on the court, that really helped me come into practice knowing I could be confident,” Thomas said. “He knows what it takes to win.”
Thomas also has watched how Able responds when things don’t go as planned. After Able struggled in the exhibition against Southern Cal, Thomas said he didn’t see his former teammate lose confidence. Instead, Able returned to the gym the next day and got back to work.
“I didn’t see him dropping his head down or anything. He knows he’s gonna be good,” Thomas said. “It’s just his first game, and just seeing him back in the gym the next day with us, working, that shows real leadership.”
Thomas’ own role is taking shape around defense, energy and effort. He played limited minutes against Southern Cal but came away pleased with his ability to run the floor, communicate and contribute without the ball.
“I felt like I made an impact defensively. Ran the lanes well, did the little things well defensively, talked,” Thomas said. “So I would grade myself like an A for the minutes I got.”
Malone has emphasized those responsibilities, asking Thomas to use his motor to change the game’s energy when he enters and capitalize on his opportunities offensively.
“Be a defensive guy, because I got a high motor,” Thomas said. “Bring all the energy when I come in to impact the game and just make shots when I need to.”
The freshman is also adjusting to the amount of film work that comes with playing at the college level. Each player receives individual clips from games, and the team reviews practice footage together. Malone uses those sessions to highlight mistakes, reinforce good habits and address decisions that need to improve.
Thomas’ review of the Southern Cal game showed him where he could have been more aggressive offensively and more precise defensively. He said the film also helps players understand shot selection and their responsibilities within the team’s defensive scheme.
“I could have been more aggressive, driving to the rim,” Thomas said. “Just little details like where I’m supposed to be located on defense, if it’s help side, closing out wrong.”
Thomas said the film sessions have felt more constructive than uncomfortable. Players already discuss mistakes among themselves after drills, and he said Malone reinforces that learning environment by staying involved in practice and encouraging players through difficult stretches.
“Even when we do player development, he’s walking around hyping us up, just uplifting us,” Thomas said of Malone. “He’s very intense in every drill we do. He even hops in some drills, passing us the ball and everything. So that just shows that he cares a lot.”
Thomas’ commitment to improving his game has a deeper motivation. He said his mother made significant sacrifices while raising him, and he now tries to honor those efforts by making sacrifices of his own, including spending time in the gym instead of with friends.
“I play this game because I know what it’s like to sacrifice,” Thomas said. “My mom sacrificed a lot for me growing up.”
| Date | Time/ scores | Month/day | Opponent/event (final ranks) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |||
| 9 | W, 88–70 | Friday | vs. USC in Greensboro | |
| 18 | 5 p.m. | Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis | B1G+ * |
| 27 | 7:30 | Tuesday | vs. Charlotte | ACCN Extra |
| November | Regular season | |||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Western Carolina | ACCN |
| 6 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Wofford | ACCN |
| 10 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming | ACCN |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Georgia | ESPN2 |
| 20 | 9 p.m. | Friday | vs. Marshall | ACCN |
| 23 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Monmouth | ACCN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Friday | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte | ESPN |
| December | ||||
| 1 | 7:30 | Tuesday | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 13 Arkansas | ESPN |
| 6 | 3 p.m. | Sunday | vs. Butler | ESPN2 |
| 12 | Noon | Saturday | at Georgetown | Peacock |
| 15 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro | ESPN2 |
| 19 | 2:30 | Saturday | CBS Sports Classic vs. Kentucky in New York | CBS |
| 21 | 8 p.m. | Monday | vs. The Citadel | The CW |
| 30 | 4 p.m. | Wednesday | vs. California | ACCN |
| January | ||||
| 2 | 4 p.m. | Saturday | at Boston College | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 5 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at Louisville | ESPN or ESPNU |
| 9 | Noon | Saturday | vs. N.C. State | ESPN2 |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Wednesday | at Florida State | ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| 16 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Stanford | The CW |
| 19 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. No. 17 Virginia | ESPN |
| 23 | Noon | Saturday | at Syracuse | ESPN or 2 or U |
| 26 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. SMU | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 30 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 5 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. | ESPN |
| February | ||||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | at Notre Dame | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Georgia Tech | The CW |
| 8 | 6 p.m. | Monday | vs. Louisville | ESPN |
| 13 | 5:30 | Saturday | at No. 4 Duke | ABC |
| 20 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 22 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 24 Miami | ESPN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Virginia Tech | ESPN |
| March | ||||
| 2 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at Pittsburgh | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | vs. No. 4 Duke | ESPN |
| 9–13 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament in Greensboro |
| No. | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Freshman | Maxi Adams | 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 |
Photo via @UNC_Basketball
