North Carolina’s first season under Coach Michael Malone will feature a familiar anchor and a fresh twist, with no game against Clemson.
Category: Men's basketball
Able to pull name from NBA draft process, play sophomore season at UNC
Matt Able will withdraw from the NBA draft process and continue his college career at North Carolina.
Keita productive again in another Barcelona victory
Incoming Carolina freshman Sayon Keita added another productive outing at the NextGen EuroLeague Finals on Friday, collecting seven points and 12 rebounds in FC Barcelona’s 110–80 victory over Žalgiris Kaunas. The win pushed Barcelona to 2–0 in Group B. Keita’s team will meet Next Gen Team 3SSB at 9:45 a.m. ET Saturday in the final group game for a spot in Sunday’s championship game.
Able has ‘two great options’ as he weighs staying in draft, playing at UNC
Matt Able put himself in front of pro scouts again on Tuesday, a week away from the deadline to decide whether to remain in the NBA draft process or continue his college career. The Carolina commitment and former N.C. State star has been navigating that timeline while building on the momentum he generated during the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. That continued Tuesday in El Segundo, Calif., where he performed in front of scouts at the Life Sports Agency Pro Day.
Able has second consecutive impressive game at NBA Draft Combine
One day after saying he was going “back and forth” about whether to play at UNC next season or stay in the NBA draft, Matt Able had another impressive showing at the NBA Draft Combine. Able scored 17 points in just under 22 minutes on Thursday in his Carpenter team’s 100–76 loss to Tyler Nickel’s Rivers team in a scrimmage at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena.
UNC reportedly to play West Virginia at Vitale Invitational in Charlotte
North Carolina will play West Virginia in men’s basketball next season in Charlotte, according to a report from Rocco Miller of Field of 68. The Tar Heels and Mountaineers will meet in the second annual Dick Vitale Invitational at the Spectrum Center on Friday, Nov. 27, the night before the regular-season football finale against N.C. State at Kenan Stadium.
Able has big game in NBA Draft Combine scrimmage
Matt Able looked comfortable and confident during an NBA Draft Combine scrimmage in Chicago on Wednesday. The former N.C. State guard, who has committed to play next season at Carolina, scored 15 points and hit 3 of 5 3-point attempts as his Carpenter team pulled away for a 95–83 victory over the Adams team.
Former LSU commitment, four-star wing Thomas, commits to UNC
Former LSU commitment Kevin Thomas, a four-star wing, has committed to North Carolina. The 6–7 Thomas, who visited Chapel Hill on Tuesday, was the high school teammate during the 2024–25 season at Sagemont Prep in Weston, Fla., with UNC transfer commitment Matt Able. They won the Florida Class 1A state title that season.
Who is Bryan Tibaldi, the latest addition to Michael Malone’s UNC coaching staff?
North Carolina is adding Bryan Tibaldi as an assistant coach on Michael Malone’s first Tar Heels staff, bringing to Chapel Hill a longtime video and player-development specialist whose résumé spans the NBA, the G League and multiple Division I programs.
Wilson embraces Combine stage, the work that’s ahead, says season-ending injury was ‘rough’
Caleb Wilson said going through the injuries that ended his Carolina career early were rough, but added on Tuesday at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago that he’s learned from it.
Samodurov, a Greek center target, former teammate of UNC commitment Avdalas
North Carolina’s push to reinforce its frontcourt includes yet another European center who has a connection to one of the Tar Heels’ newcomers.
Alexandros Samodurov (pronounced “sa-muh-DJOOR-ahv”) is a 6–11, 212-pound Greek center who has already played in the EuroLeague. Multiple reports in the past week link UNC to Samodurov as he evaluates his college options while also going through the NBA draft process.
UNC among schools targeting elite shot-blocking former FAU center Williams
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.
Latest target for UNC is Luigi Suigo, a young 7–3 Italian center
North Carolina’s search for a center continues to include players overseas, and the latest target is a 19-year-old Italian center. Luigi Suigo, a 7–3, 241-pound big man from Milan who played this season for Mega Basket in Serbia, entered the NBA Draft and was invited to the NBA Draft Combine, which starts Sunday in Chicago.
Able invited to NBA Draft Combine, along with Wilson, Veesaar and Nickel
North Carolina had three former players and one player it hopes will play for the Tar Heels next season among the 74 invited on Friday to the NBA Draft Combine.
‘Future of French basketball,’ Dessert could be one UNC answer at center
North Carolina’s frontcourt makeover has leaned hard into height and upside, but lacks a big, physical and experienced center who can mix it up inside with the best big men in the country. One answer could be 6–11, 247-pound Brice Dessert (pronounced “Breess deh-ZAHR”), a 23-year-old French center who has been mentioned as a possible target for the Tar Heels.