Michael Malone’s first UNC roster is loaded with names that already have Tar Heel fans talking, but one freshman may be getting lost in the shuffle.
The attention has mostly gone to the transfer class. Terrence Brown arrives as one of the ACC’s most electric players and a likely fan favorite.
Matt Able brings added value after coming over from in-state rival NC State. Neoklis Avdalas has also drawn plenty of buzz because of his upside.
And among the freshmen, Maximo Adams has been the bigger talking point as Malone worked to keep the talented small forward in Chapel Hill after Hubert Davis left the program.
Kevin Thomas, though, has been a quieter addition. He originally committed and signed with LSU in the fall of 2025 before flipping to North Carolina after a visit last May. A consensus 4-star recruit ranked 92nd nationally by 247Sports, Thomas gives the Tar Heels another bench option in a roster where minutes will be hard to come by.
That part matters. With this much talent spread across the team, Malone is going to have a difficult time sorting out the rotation, and Thomas does not appear to be in line to start. The backcourt is especially crowded, so his first-year role figures to be limited unless he forces his way into more time.
Still, Thomas has a path to real value. He may not be asked to carry the scoring load, but he can help North Carolina on the defensive end right away. At 6-foot-6, he’s a lively perimeter defender with a 6-foot-10 wingspan that can bother opposing offenses.
The upside is obvious if he develops the right way under Malone. Thomas might not flash the kind of game that immediately jumps off the screen or fills the box score, but he has the tools to affect winning in ways that don’t always show up in the numbers.
In Other News...
UNC Just Got A Huge Break In One Key TCU Matchup
North Carolinas season opener in Ireland just got a little easier to game-plan for, as TCU will be without its leading returning receiver, Jordan Dwyer, when the two teams meet to open 2026. Dwyer traveled with the Horned Frogs, but a foot injury has ruled him out of the matchup, removing one of TCUs most established pass-catching options before the first snap.
The Tar Heels are still preparing for a Power Four test in a game with plenty of early-season intrigue, but losing Dwyer changes the complexion of a key part of the matchup. TCU will also be missing defensive lineman Zach Chapman because of injury, leaving both sides to adjust before a game that already carried a bit of added attention on an international stage. [Read more 🡒]
North Carolina Just Caught A Break In Its Week 0 Opener
TCUs preparations for its Week 0 meeting with North Carolina in Dublin took a hit with the news that leading returning receiver Jordan Dwyer will be unavailable because of a foot injury. Dwyer still traveled with the team, but he will be inactive for the game, removing one of the Horned Frogs most established options from an opener that already carries plenty of uncertainty.
For North Carolina, it is at least a small early break in a matchup that will still ask plenty of its defense. Jaden Craig is set for his first FBS start without Dwyer available, which puts more of the burden on the rest of TCUs receiving group to settle in quickly, including Ed Small and Jeremy Scott, as the Horned Frogs try to sort out their offense on an overseas stage. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Made A Staff Move That Says Plenty About Its Momentum
Noah Goldmans rise at North Carolina picked up another step this week, with head coach Andrew DiBitetto promoting him to associate head coach of the Tar Heels mens golf program. Goldman arrived in Chapel Hill in 2023 and has quickly become part of a staff that has helped drive both team success and individual progress, a sign that the programs recent momentum is showing up not just in results, but in the way it is building for the future.
Goldman brings a strong background to the role, including previous coaching stops at Oregon State and a collegiate playing career at Mississippi State. For UNC, the move underscores continuity and confidence in what has been working, with Goldman already tied to multiple team titles and player breakthroughs during his time with the program. [Read more 🡒]