By R.L. Bynum
Former Tar Heels are scattered across college basketball as rosters annually fluctuate in the transfer portal era. This season’s group includes 14 men and five women, though three of the men are in eligibility limbo.
Seth Trimble’s hopes of playing a fifth college season at Louisville depend on the outcome of litigation. A Kentucky Court of Appeals panel dissolved the injunction that had cleared him on Oct. 2 to play at Louisville, and Cardinals coach Pat Kelsey has said he is preparing as if Trimble will play, hoping for a positive court ruling.
“Your guess is as good as mine, but we’re just coaching like they’re all eligible right now,” Kelsey said at ACC Tipoff.
Cade Tyson rejoined Minnesota in September for a fifth season while contesting his eligibility. Vanderbilt’s Jalen Washington is the lead plaintiff of 19 in a Tennessee case that also includes UNC center Cameron Fens.
Exhibition season is already underway, with Elliot Cadeau handing out eight assists in a win for reigning national champion Michigan. Elina Aarnisalo, Luka Bogavac, Derek Dixon have also debuted at their new schools.
Aarnisalo, a 5–10 junior guard from Finland, has returned to UCLA after one season at Carolina. She made 8 of 18 shots, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, in 27 minutes, adding seven assists and four rebounds in the Bruins’ 87–53 road victory Wednesday at California.
Cadeau, a senior guard, collected 10 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals in nearly 27 minutes of Sunday’s 87–62 win over Eastern Michigan.
It was Mike Boynton Jr.’s first game at Crisler Center as coach after Dusty May left for the Dallas Mavericks. Cadeau chose to stay, saying, “I bleed blue.”
Dixon started for Arizona in a 93–69 win over San Francisco on Tuesday and scored 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting (2-of-6 beyond the arc) with three assists, three turnovers and a steal in 31 minutes.
Bogavac scored 13 points off the bench, making 3-of-10 shots and 3-of-7 beyond the arc with four turnovers in 24 minutes of Oklahoma State’s 99–89 home loss Sunday to New Mexico.
The defeat snapped a 57-game home exhibition win streak, the Cowboys’ first home exhibition loss since Nov. 22, 1988, against the Soviet National Team.
When Oklahoma State signed him in May, coach Steve Lutz said he had been tested on a large stage.
“Luka has grown up in high-level basketball and has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages,” Lutz said.
Ian Jackson, a junior guard in his second season at St. John’s, started in its 81–52 home win over Drexel on Wednesday and finished with 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting (missing all five 3-point attempts), with three assists and two steals in 24 minutes.
Will Shaver, a 6–10, 265-pound center at Samford who played three games for UNC in 2022–23, started for the first time after coming off the bench in all 60 of his regular-season games.
In his second season at Samford after two at UAB, he scored 12 points in a 71–61 exhibition win Tuesday over Alabama A&M in Birmingham. He had 10 rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal, and was a team-best +17.
Others have yet to play their exhibition openers.
Ven-Allen Lubin, in his second season at N.C. State, faces Mississippi State on Sunday in Greensboro and Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 24. Kyan Evans opens exhibition play Thursday for Minnesota against Omaha, Jonathan Powell plays Providence on Saturday for Pittsburgh, and Zayden High and South Florida meet Saint Leo on Monday. BYU’s Liza Astakhova meets Western Colorado in an exhibition on Oct. 27.
James Brown at Howard, Lanie Grant at TCU, Taliyah Henderson at Clemson and Ivan Matlekovic at Pacific won’t play in any exhibition games.
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Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA guard
5–10 | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 26 starts, 26.7 minutes, 10.2 points, 47.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 76.1 FG%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 of an assist, 2.2 turnovers
Wednesday exhibition — UCLA 87, Cal 53 (road) | 27 minutes, 20 points, 8–18 FG, 4–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 fouls, +20
Exhibition finale —2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, vs. Texas in Cedar Park, Texas
Season opener — 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Lehigh, B1G+
Liza Astakhova, BYU wing
6–2 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 12 games, 57 minutes, 25 points, 34.5 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 3–4 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Exhibition — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, vs. Western Colorado
Season opener — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, vs. Idaho State
Luka Bogavac, Oklahoma State guard
6–6, 215 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 21 starts, 24.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 40.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 73.6 FG%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists. 0.4 of a steal
Sunday exhibition — New Mexico 99, Oklahoma State 89 (home) | didn’t start: 24 minutes, 13 points, 3–10 FG, 3–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers
Remaining exhibitions — 3:30 Friday vs. Tulsa; 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Wisconsin, B1G+
Season opener — Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Incarnate Word
James Brown, Howard center
6–6, 240 pounds | Junior| UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 9 games, 50 minutes, 11 points, 75.0 FG%, 38.5 FT%, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at Yale
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 38 games, 38 starts, 10.2 points, 41.6 FG%, 37.7 3P%, 69.4 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists
Team record: 35–3; No. 2-ranked; won national championship; Cadeau MOP
Sunday exhibition — Michigan 87, Eastern Michigan 62 (home) | started: 26:49, 10 points, 2–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 5–6 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 fouls, 8 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 steals, +28 (tied for team high)
Remaining exhibitions — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Oregon State, B1G+; 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, vs. Houston in Grand Rapids, Mich., B1G+
Season opener — Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Incarnate Word
Derek Dixon, Arizona guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16 starts, 22.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 36.4 FG%, 39.7 3FG%, 81.8 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Tuesday exhibition — Arizona 93, San Francisco 69 (home) | started: 31:03, 10 points, 4–11 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +17
Remaining exhibitions — 9 p.m. Friday vs. San Diego State, ESPN+; 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, vs. Eastern Washington
Season opener — 10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, vs. UCLA in Las Vegas, TNT
Kyan Evans, Minnesota guard
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 17 starts, 17.7 minutes, 4.0 points, 32.8 FG%, 30.5 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 1.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.1 turnovers
Exhibitions — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Omaha, B1G+; 7:30 Friday, Oct. 23, at Creighton, YouTube
Season opener — 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, vs. North Dakota, B1G+
Lanie Grant, TCU guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 34 games, 29 starts, 29.1 minutes, 10.8 points, 44.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 81.4 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 1.8 turnovers
Season opener — 7:30 Tuesday, Nov. 3 vs. Oral Roberts, ESPN+
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 30 games, 2.3 points, 43.6 FG%, 4–10 3FG, 69.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 8 blocks, 12 steals
Team record: 19–12
Season opener — 7:30 Tuesday, Nov. 3, vs. Incarnate Word
Taliyah Henderson, Clemson guard
6–1 | Sophomore| UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 33 games, 0 starts, 341 minutes, 122 points, 56.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 66 rebounds, 9 assists, 23 steals, 1 block
Season opener — noon Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Radford
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 23 games, 103 minutes, 18 points, 31.6 FG%, 0–8 3FG, 54.5 FT%, 26 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks
Exhibition — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Saint Leo
Season opener — 7:30 Thursday, Nov. 5, at DePaul
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior| UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 36 games, 19 starts, 9.4 points, 40.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 30–7; Final rank: No. 10
Wednesday exhibition — St. John’s 81, Drexel 52 (home) | started: 24 minutes, 10 points, 4–12 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 2 fouls, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals
Remaining exhibitions — noon Sunday vs. Rutgers in MSG; noon Sunday, Oct. 25 vs. Texas in MSG
Season opener — 6:30 Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Monmouth at Carnesecca Arena, ESPN+
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 235 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.6 points, ACC-leading 66.8 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 7.1 rebounds
Team record: 20–14
Exhibitions — 4 p.m. Sunday vs. Mississippi State in Greensboro; noon Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
Season opener — 7:30 Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Campbell, ACC Network Extra
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, ESPN2
Ivan Matlekovic, Pacific center
7–0, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Season opener — Tuesday, Nov. 3 vs. Bethesda
Jonathan Powell, Pittsburgh wing
6–6, 191 pounds | Junior| UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.2 minutes, 4.8 points, 38.1 FG%, 36.5 3P$, 48.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
Exhibition — 2 p.m. Saturday at Providence
Season opener — 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Rider, ACC Network Extra
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, in Pittsburgh, ESPN or ESPN2
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Team record: 18–14
Tuesday exhibition — Samford 71, Alabama A&M 61 (Boutwell Auditorium; neutral site in Birmingham) | started (never has started in 60 regular-season games): 12 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–6 FT, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls, team-high +17
Remaining exhibitions — 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at Jacksonville State; Thursday, Oct. 29 at Auburn
Season opener — 7:30 Monday, Nov. 2, vs. Berry
In eligibility limbo
Louisville guard Seth Trimble
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Vanderbilt center Jalen Washington
Top photo via arizonawildcats.com; Aarnisalo photo via @UCLAWBB; Bogavac photo via@OSUMBB
