North Carolina’s roster may look dramatically different, but Jarin Stevenson is the returning piece that could end up mattering most once the 2026 season rolls around.
That was the message from head coach Michael Malone on Thursday, when he laid out a bigger picture for the former Alabama forward in his second year in Chapel Hill. Stevenson already flashed what he can do late last season, and now the Tar Heels appear ready to put more on his plate.
The clearest version of Stevenson showed up after Caleb Wilson went down with wrist and thumb injuries and missed the final nine games in 2025. During that stretch, Stevenson’s numbers jumped: 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field. It was the kind of run that hinted at more than just a useful rotation piece.
With a new staff, different schemes and a more defined role, Stevenson has a real chance to carry that production forward. North Carolina’s backcourt is loaded with guards who can create, and that should make life easier for a 6-foot-10, 215-pound forward who can score in more than one way.
That versatility is exactly why Malone sees him fitting cleanly into the system. Malone has even compared Stevenson to Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, saying he’ll be used in a similar way. The comparison says plenty about how North Carolina views Stevenson: not as a one-dimensional big, but as a player who can be moved around and deployed in different spots depending on the matchup.
His value doesn’t stop on offense, either. Stevenson’s ability to switch across multiple positions gives Malone more freedom with lineups, especially with the center spot still unsettled. If Sayon Keita or Alexandros Samodurov is having trouble, Stevenson can slide to the five in certain situations and help steady things.
For a team that will be leaning on a new look, that kind of flexibility could become essential. Stevenson’s role is set to grow, and if his late-season form from 2025 carries over, he could end up being one of the biggest reasons North Carolina finds its footing in 2026.
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Bill Belichick Is Already Facing Heat At North Carolina
After one week of the 2026 college football season, the spotlight around North Carolina has already gotten hotter than anyone in Chapel Hill wanted. Bill Belichick arrived with enormous attention and even more expectations, but the Tar Heels are dealing with early on-field struggles at the same time the program is under investigation, creating an uneasy backdrop before the season has really had a chance to settle in.
Belichick is hardly the only coach feeling the temperature rise after Week 1, with Dabo Swinney, Greg Schiano, Shane Beamer and Mike Norvell all facing their own scrutiny after rough openers or shaky recent results. Still, North Carolinas situation stands out because the football questions are now colliding with the off-field noise, and that combination can make every snap, every setback and every public answer carry a little more weight. [Read more 🡒]
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Michael Malones First UNC Staff Sends A Clear Message About Chapel Hills Future
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It is also a staff that leans hard into the programs own history, with former Tar Heels Brandon Robinson and Deon Thompson working in coaching and development roles. Taken together, the group feels designed to balance continuity with a wider modern reach, giving Malone a staff that knows the building, knows the brand and can still bring in outside perspective as UNC settles into this next phase. [Read more 🡒]