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Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje has grown up around basketball long enough to understand the weight of expectations, even before his game began drawing the interest of college programs, including Carolina and Duke. His distinctive last name should be familiar. His dad is Reuben Boumtje-Boumtje (pronounced “BOOM-shay-BOOM-shay”), the former Georgetown center from Cameroon who later played in the NBA and across several European leagues.
Sayon Keita, a 7–0, 215-pound center from Mali committed to North Carolina on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
The pledge by the center, who has been part of the FC Barcelona system since 2023 comes one day after the Tar Heels got a commitment from former Northwestern center Cade Bennerman.
Former Northwestern center Cade Bennerman has committed to North Carolina. The 7–0, 205-pound center, who has a 7–5 wingspan, will be more of a developmental addition after redshirting during his first season at Northwestern.
The departures of Henri Veesaar and Caleb Wilson mark only the second time in UNC program history that two players with remaining eligibility have left for the NBA after only one season in Chapel Hill. Although there haven’t been nearly as many UNC players who turned pro after only one season as there have been at Duke, the first such Tar Heel did so 54 years ago.
Henri Veesaar will enter the 2026 NBA draft, a move that formalizes the next step for one of college basketball’s most efficient big men and forces Carolina into a fast recalibration under Coach Michael Malone. Matt Norlander of CBS reported that, according to a source, Veesaar intends to stay in the draft.
Two months away from the NBA draft, Caleb Wilson is projected as high as No. 2 on mock drafts, while Henri Veesaar is a consensus second-round pick who three project to go in the first round.
Former UNC guard Liza Astakhova has committed to continue her college career at Brigham Young. The Russian guard, who played sparingly at Carolina last season as a freshman, made the announcement Thursday in an Instagram post.
Former North Carolina freshman forward Taliyah Henderson will continue her career at ACC rival Clemson. Henderson made the announcement on Wednesday in an Instagram post, saying that she is, “Excited for what’s ahead.”
Terrence Brown, Utah’s leading scorer and one of the transfer portal’s most sought-after guards, has committed to North Carolina. He made the announcement Tuesday on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I’m home.”
Isaiah Denis battled a nagging finger injury and never got much of a chance to show his ability during his freshman season at North Carolina. After entering the transfer portal, talking to Coach Michael Malone and praying about it, the talented 6–4 guard decided that his best option was to return to the Tar Heels.
Former Carolina guard Seth Trimble helped his NBA pre-draft case this week with a productive three-game showing at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. Trimble averaged 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds, shooting 46.1% from the floor as his Norfolk Sports Club finished 2–1.
North Carolina guard Isaiah Denis has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal and will return for his sophomore season.
Coach Michael Malone’s first non-conference schedule as Carolina’s men’s basketball coach is coming into focus.
Zayden High will continue his college career at South Florida. The 6–10 former UNC center announced his decision in a Wednesday afternoon post on X (formerly Twitter).
Since entering the transfer portal, former Wake Forest guard Juke Harris has spent time wearing maize and blue at Michigan’s national championship celebration and with the North Carolina coaches for brunch at a Salisbury restaurant. The 6–7 star has become the transfer portal’s most coveted perimeter scorer, with multiple reports indicating he will likely transfer to either UNC, Michigan or Tennessee. He’s No. 1 on On3’s list of top transfer portal players.
