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Italian basketball fans found out what Carolina fans already knew — Alyssa Ustby is a talented and versatile player, and proved it by piling up the postseason awards. In her first professional season, the 6–1 Ustby earned Eurobasket.com Player of the Year honors in Serie A playing for Panthers Roseto after averaging a double-double over 24 games last season.
Coach Michael Malone has secured his prime remaining European center target. Greek 6–11, 212-pound big man Alexandros Samodurov (pronounced “sa-muh-DJOOR-ahv”), who has EuroLeague experience, has committed to continue his career at Carolina after withdrawing from the NBA draft process, according to multiple reports.
North Carolina’s first season under Coach Michael Malone will feature a familiar anchor and a fresh twist, with no game against Clemson.
Matt Able will withdraw from the NBA draft process and continue his college career at North Carolina.
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.
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.
Deja Kelly built a reputation during her five college seasons as a reliable scorer, and on opening night of a new professional venture, she carried that scoring instinct with her. Kelly collected 31 points in the Charlotte Crown’s 103–95 road win against the Jacksonville Waves on opening night of the inaugural Upshot League game, giving the league an immediate showcase performance from the former North Carolina and Oregon star.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
The home run derby was a draw, but No. 2 North Carolina prevailed in the game. UNC hit a season-high four home runs to knock off the Seahawks 13–7 on Tuesday at Brooks Field in Wilmington despite four UNCW home runs, the most by a Tar Heels opponent this season.
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.
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.
