CHAPEL HILL - Angelo Brizzi thought his college run was done.
After wrapping up his senior season at Buffalo in March, he had already applied for a hardship waiver from the NCAA in hopes of getting one more year. At the time, though, he was mentally moving on. Brizzi hired an agent, started down the path toward playing overseas and figured his time in college basketball had ended after appearing in just nine games as a freshman at Villanova.
Then came the text that changed everything. On a random Tuesday, while he was in the gym, Brizzi learned his waiver had been approved.
"The next couple of weeks were just a whirlwind," Brizzi said. "I was just trying to find a situation that made sense to come back to college."
That search led him back to Chapel Hill. Brizzi committed to North Carolina on July 1 and will now try to carve out a role for first-year head coach Michael Malone. He is one of 13 newcomers on the Tar Heels’ roster, but the move also brought him back to a place that already felt familiar.
Brizzi’s ties to UNC go back to his recruiting days at Highland High School in Warrenton, Virginia, when he was a three-star prospect drawing attention from major programs. Villanova, where he ultimately landed, pursued him hard under Jay Wright. So did Roy Williams at North Carolina.
As a junior, Brizzi took an unofficial visit to Chapel Hill. That weekend, Caleb Love and Walker Kessler were also there on recruiting visits.
"That shows you how old I am," Brizzi joked.
After that trip - and after playing pickup games at the Smith Center - Williams eventually called with a clear message. UNC’s top point guard target was Kennedy Chandler, who ended up at Tennessee. Brizzi didn’t wait on that process to play out and chose Villanova instead.
Now, years later, he is back in Chapel Hill and calling it what it feels like.
"It's full circle…," Brizzi said about being back here. "It's funny but also pretty cool to be back here five, six years later."
Brizzi also brings a connection that should help him settle in quickly: familiarity with people around Malone. During his freshman season at Villanova, he grew close with Collin Gillespie, who later signed as an undrafted free agent with Malone’s Denver Nuggets and won an NBA title in 2023.
When Brizzi first heard from Malone and assistant coach Chuck Martin after entering the portal, he reached out to Gillespie for some perspective. Gillespie knew Malone well from Denver. Malone, in turn, called Gillespie to get a read on Brizzi.
"We had a good conversation about him [Malone], and I think they might have talked about me a little bit [too]," Brizzi said.
He has not been on campus long, but the routine of being the new guy is nothing new. UNC is his fifth school in five years, following Villanova, Davidson, Longwood and Buffalo.
"The acclimation process was great," Brizzi said. "Everyone was welcoming and as someone who's been to quite a few schools, I'm used to the process of getting acclimated to new places."
What comes next is the real challenge: winning minutes in a crowded backcourt. Brizzi is competing with Utah transfer Terrence Brown, Virginia Tech transfer Neo Avdalas, NC State transfer Matt Able, freshman Kevin Thomas and returners Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young.
The one thing Brizzi can point to that many of those guards cannot is experience. Brown is entering his fourth season, and Young is, too. Brizzi is heading into his fifth, with five years spent moving through five programs and adapting to new coaches, teammates and settings along the way.
His path has even crossed with a few recognizable names. He shared that recruiting trip with Kessler, now entering his fifth NBA season and on his second team, and Love, who finished a five-year college career and is beginning his second NBA season. Gillespie, meanwhile, remains part of his circle.
"The one thing I bring to the table that most guys can't is just experience from having been around the block," Brizzi said. "I think I can be a steady presence… that can be a reliable piece [in the backcourt]."
It all traces back to that unexpected message on a random afternoon. What Brizzi thought was the end of his college career turned into one more shot, and now he has a chance to turn years of bouncing around into something UNC can use.
In Other News...
UNC Just Got A Veteran Guard Boost Fans Didnt See Coming
Angelo Brizzis move to Chapel Hill gives North Carolina another experienced guard at a time when roster depth and backcourt stability matter as much as ever. The veteran has already logged time at Villanova, Davidson, Longwood and Buffalo, and the NCAA has approved a waiver that clears him to play one more college season. Now he arrives at UNC with the kind of well-traveled background that can help a new-look team settle in quickly under first-year head coach Michael Malone.
For the Tar Heels, Brizzis addition is less about splash than about fit, because a player who has seen that many programs usually brings a sense of pace, adaptability and perspective. His final college stop gives North Carolina another layer of insurance and another voice in a guard group that will need to absorb Malones system fast. The bigger question now is how that experience translates once the games begin and where Brizzi fits in a rotation that is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Lost Momentum In A Crucial Five Star Battle
Jordan Pages recruitment has reached a pivotal stretch, and North Carolina just felt the ground shift a little. The five-star guard recently visited Chapel Hill and also took a trip to UConn, giving both programs a chance to make their case as his process moves toward a final decision. For the Tar Heels, landing a player of Pages caliber would be a major boost, especially in a battle that has drawn plenty of attention on the national recruiting trail.
The latest buzz, though, has tilted away from UNC. Travis Branham of 247Sports put in a Crystal Ball prediction for UConn, a sign that the Huskies may have the inside track even as both schools stay actively involved. Recruiting decisions can still turn quickly, but for North Carolina, this is the kind of update that makes the final stages of a five-star chase feel a lot more urgent. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Must Fix One Passing Problem To Threaten Notre Dame
North Carolinas passing game has had trouble stretching the field this season, and that has become a clear concern as the Tar Heels prepare for Notre Dame. Billy Edwards Jr. has not found much consistency on throws beyond 10 yards, leaving the offense short on the kind of explosive plays that can change a game against a tougher opponent.
Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino have both stressed the need for sharper execution and better design to help create those opportunities. The Tar Heels are also hopeful to get receiver C.J. Sadler back in the mix, a potential boost since he has already caught the longest pass of the season and could give the passing attack a needed jolt at just the right time. [Read more 🡒]