UNC Just Entered A Fascinating Battle For An Elite Young Big

UNC's pursuit of towering prospect Cherif Millogo showcases their strategic move to bolster their roster with the 7-foot-4 phenom, despite recent challenges and growing competition from top schools.

North Carolina has jumped into the mix for one of the most imposing prospects in the 2027 class, offering 7-foot-4 center Cherif Millogo.

Millogo, who attends St. Francis High School in La Canada Flintridge, California, is rated as the No. 44 overall prospect by 247Sports and No. 36 in the 247Sports Composite. His most recent weigh-in listed him at 240 pounds.

TarHeel247 was first to report that UNC had begun seriously focusing on Millogo a couple of months ago. The offer came while head coach Michael Malone and assistants Sean May and Chuck Martin were on the West Coast visiting prospects.

Millogo’s offer sheet already includes Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, BYU and Syracuse.

A native of Burkina Faso, Millogo is being mentored by his guardian, former UCLA star and NBA player Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. He also has some eye-opening physical tools: a 7-foot-9 wingspan and a size 17 shoe.

According to the St. Francis official website, Millogo did not play last season while he was at Cambridge Arts, Technology and Science Academy in Boston after tearing a knee ligament. The profile also says he grew up in the tiny West African country of Burkina Faso, was originally a soccer player, and only moved toward basketball after a growth spurt, a camp invitation and being spotted playing in Togo.

He later moved to Florida two years ago and said he learned how to shoot by watching YouTube videos of Kevin Durant.

The St. Francis profile also notes that he speaks French, English and two tribal languages, has a 7-foot older brother and a father who is 6-8. He turned 18 on Sept. 27, giving him two years of high school eligibility left.

In Other News...

UNC Opens Duke Week With A Roster Concern Fans Will Watch

Duke week opened with an early reminder that the injury report can shape the rivalry long before kickoff. The Atlantic Coast Conference released its initial availability report for the weekend slate, and North Carolina showed up with several names to monitor, including Kaleb Cost, Greg Smith, Isaiah Johnson, Jordan Hall and Jordan Washington, all listed either doubtful or questionable.

Duke also has a notable concern of its own, with star running back Nate Sheppard listed as questionable, but the focus in Chapel Hill will be on how UNCs report evolves from here. The ACC will update the injury list daily leading into game day, which means this matchup could look different by the time the teams finally meet. [Read more 🡒]

UNC Heads To Duke With A Defensive Problem It Can't Hide

North Carolina heads to Duke still trying to make sense of a defense that has too often put the offense back on the field. The Tar Heels have struggled on third down, and the issues have only grown more complicated with injuries thinning out the secondary. Against a Duke team that wants to lean on the ground game, UNC is walking into a matchup that will test both its communication and its ability to stay in control of long drives.

Nate Sheppard gives Duke a rushing threat that can expose missed assignments and worn-down personnel, which puts even more pressure on North Carolina to clean up the details. The Tar Heels do not just need better tackling, they need better timing, better down-and-distance situations and a defense that can survive without being stretched snap after snap. If UNC cannot solve those problems quickly, the Blue Devils have a clear path to make this rivalry tilt in their favor. [Read more 🡒]

UNC Fans Finally Get The Kenan Stadium Atmosphere They Wanted

For Tar Heels fans who have been waiting for a true night-game feel at Kenan Stadium, the ACC finally delivered one. North Carolinas Oct. 24 matchup with Syracuse will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network, giving UNC its first Saturday night home game of the season and adding a little extra juice to a stretch that already carries plenty of weight.

The timing matters, too, with UNC sitting 3-2 overall and 1-1 in ACC play as it heads into a run that includes Duke, Syracuse and Miami. The Syracuse game will also be labeled Family Football Day, but the bigger draw may be the atmosphere itself, with Tar Heels supporters finally getting the kind of prime-time setting they have been hoping to see in Chapel Hill. [Read more 🡒]