Considering everything North Carolina has gone through in recent months, the Tar Heels are coming out of the offseason with real momentum. Hubert Davis was let go after a second straight first-round NCAA Tournament exit, and after a search that stretched on for weeks, the program turned to Michael Malone.
Malone arrived in Chapel Hill with plenty of questions hanging over the hire, especially around recruiting. So far, he’s answered those concerns by landing several major transfer portal additions. And among the new-look roster, three players stand out as the biggest potential beneficiaries of Malone’s system.
One of the clearest winners is Stevenson. Keeping the 6-foot-9, 216-pound forward was a priority for Malone, and he looks set to be a central part of what North Carolina does next season.
Last year, the former Alabama forward spent much of his time as a support piece behind Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, both of whom are no longer with the program. But when Wilson suffered a season-ending thumb injury, Stevenson’s role changed fast.
Over the final nine games without Wilson, he put up 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field. Malone should lean on him in both the low and high post, which ought to open up more of the offense for him.
The expectation is that Stevenson’s numbers will look a lot like that late-season stretch.
Avdalas brings a different kind of upside. At 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, the Virginia Tech transfer has the size, handle, and passing feel to stand out immediately.
Those traits were obvious last season, but the efficiency wasn’t there - he shot 38.6 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from three-point range. That’s where Malone’s influence could matter most.
If Avdalas becomes the primary distributor, his assist numbers should climb, and his scoring should become both steadier and more efficient. The big swing here is clear: his game should be far more effective under Malone.
Brown fits the offense in a different way. The former Utah guard already knows how to score, coming off a season in which he averaged 19.9 points per game.
But that came with a heavy burden, since he was essentially carrying the whole offense. At North Carolina, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound senior won’t need to have the ball in his hands as often, and that should help him long term.
He’s an elite athlete, and his best role appears to be alongside a creative ball-handler like Avdalas, attacking as an off-ball slashing guard. Brown shot 45.3 percent from the field last season, and with more chances to finish around the rim on backdoor cuts, that number could rise above 50 percent.
In Other News...
UNC Investigation Just Became A Bigger Staff Crisis Than Fans Feared
Michael Lombardis resignation as general manager added another jolt to an already unsettled stretch for UNC football, turning what had been a simmering internal issue into a broader staff problem. The Tar Heels are dealing with an ongoing investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and drug use involving staff members, and Lombardis departure only deepens the sense that this is now about more than one person or one role.
Steve Belichick and members of the recruiting staff have reportedly been part of the questions surrounding the inquiry, though no conclusive findings have been reported. For UNC, the unresolved nature of the case is what makes it so disruptive: the program is left trying to move forward while the investigation continues and the staff picture remains in flux. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Legend Tyler Hansbrough Rips NCAA As Tar Heels Wait On Crucial Decision
As North Carolina waits for clarity on Cameron Fens, Tyler Hansbrough made it plain he has little patience for the way the NCAA has handled eligibility disputes across college sports. The Tar Heels legend called the situation disgusting, taking aim at the governing body for rules that remain murky and for the slow pace of decision-making that keeps programs and players stuck in limbo.
For UNC, the issue is more than a philosophical gripe. Fens is currently ineligible and his case is still tied up in legal proceedings, leaving the Tar Heels without a final answer on a player they may need in the middle of their lineup. Until that ruling arrives, the uncertainty hangs over both the roster and the larger frustration Hansbrough voiced so sharply. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Football Faces Disturbing Questions As Staff Probe Deepens
North Carolina football is dealing with a widening internal probe that has put the program under an uncomfortable spotlight. The allegations at issue include improper sexual relationships and drug use, and the review has already reached some of the sports most visible staffers, with Michael Lombardi stepping down as general manager while the school continues to sort through what happened and who was involved.
Steve Belichick remains on medical leave as the investigation continues, leaving the Tar Heels to navigate a serious off-field situation with questions still hanging over the staff structure. For a program trying to move forward, the deeper concern now is not just the names attached to the inquiry, but how many people connected to the team may ultimately be swept into it. [Read more 🡒]