North Carolina’s roster may still be getting treated like a question mark in some preseason circles, but the early 2027 NBA Draft chatter paints a much brighter picture.
That became clear when ESPN’s Jeremy Woo rolled out his first mock draft for 2027, a list that gave a few Tar Heels real buzz. It also arrived after the 2026 NBA Draft, where former North Carolina players Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar both heard their names called. Wilson went No. 4 to the Chicago Bulls, while Veesaar landed at No. 52 with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Tar Heels’ most interesting draft storyline right now starts with Matt Able. The North Carolina State transfer turned heads at last month’s NBA scouting combine and pushed himself into borderline first-round territory.
Able, a 6-foot-6, 211-pound guard, came away looking like a player who can impact the game on both ends without needing a huge shot load to do it. In Woo’s mock, he sits No. 16 on the big board, just outside the lottery.
With Michael Malone now in charge, Able looks positioned for a big season and, eventually, a firm first-round grade in 2027.
North Carolina also made a serious bet on the frontcourt by bringing in Sayon Keita from Barcelona. The 7-foot-1, 215-pound center has the kind of talent that can draw lottery attention, even if Woo slotted him at No. 25 on the board. He has the upside to climb quickly, but he is also the kind of player whose rise may take some time to fully show up.
Beyond that trio, the first-round talk dries up for the Tar Heels in this mock. Neoklis Avdalas is the other name in the mix, checking in at No.
- The 6-foot-9, 216-pound guard transferred in from Virginia Tech and figures to raise his stock as the year goes on.
With the pieces around him and the new staff in place, his production and efficiency could take a noticeable jump.
That’s why this draft snapshot matters. It suggests North Carolina may be getting underestimated right now.
The Tar Heels are being viewed as a borderline top-25 team, with questions still lingering about chemistry and the new coaching staff. But the talent profile is stronger than that label suggests, and the versatility across the roster gives this team a ceiling that could be higher than many expect.
If North Carolina gets where it wants to go next March, these three players will be a huge reason why.
In Other News...
Former Tar Heel Henri Veesaar Finally Faced His Draft Night Reality
Henri Veesaars draft night did not unfold the way most of the chatter around him had pointed for months. The former Tar Heel entered the process with first-round expectations, but a crowded class and a less convincing showing at the scouting combine pushed him into a far less comfortable spot, turning what had looked like a clean rise into a night of waiting and recalculating.
When the Hawks finally came in during the second round, Veesaar got his answer and soon enough was talking through how he fits in Atlanta. For North Carolina, it was a reminder of how quickly draft boards can shift, and how a players value can be shaped as much by timing and pre-draft workouts as by what he did in college. [Read more 🡒]
UNCs No. 26 Could Change The Offense Where It Hurt Most
North Carolina has spent the offseason trying to rebuild the parts of its roster that let it down a year ago, and the tight end room has become one of the more interesting places to watch. Bill Belichicks first team in Chapel Hill is under real pressure to show progress, so the additions through recruiting and the transfer portal matter more than ever, especially when they give the offense a different kind of target in the middle of the field.
The latest arrival brings the kind of size and profile that can change how a defense has to line up, and he came to UNC with plenty of attention after drawing interest around the portal. What makes him even more important is the uncertainty at quarterback, with the Tar Heels still sorting out who will take the first snaps in the fall. If that battle leans toward a younger option, a reliable tight end could become the kind of security blanket that helps this offense find answers in the red zone, where it needs them most. [Read more 🡒]
Two Former Tar Heels Are Bringing Chapel Hill With Them to the NBA
Two former Tar Heels are keeping a little piece of Chapel Hill with them as they head into the NBA. Caleb Wilson, the fourth overall pick, will wear No. 8 with the Chicago Bulls, the same number he wore at North Carolina, while Henri Veesaar is taking No. 13 into his pro career after being picked by the Los Angeles Clippers and then traded to the Atlanta Hawks.
For Carolina fans, it is a small but familiar detail that makes the transition feel a little less distant. Wilsons lone season in Chapel Hill ended early because of injury, but the number on his back will still look the part when he steps on an NBA floor. Veesaar, meanwhile, is continuing the number he carried through both Arizona and North Carolina, another reminder that even as the roster turns over, some Tar Heel connections travel well beyond college. [Read more 🡒]