North Carolina’s roster came together under less-than-ideal timing this offseason, but the Tar Heels still look like a team built to matter when the games tighten up late. With Michael Malone stepping in as the new head coach and the portal window opening before that situation was fully settled, UNC was playing catch-up in the recruiting process. Even so, the projected starting five of Terrence Brown, Matt Able, Neoklis Avdalas, Jarin Stevenson, and Cameron Fens gives the Tar Heels a clear foundation.
That leaves the bench as the next big storyline, and there are three names worth tracking closely.
The first is Isaiah Adams, and he’s the easiest player on this list to get excited about. Before Able arrived, Adams had a real argument to start.
Instead, he may end up giving North Carolina exactly what good teams need: a scorer who can come in and punch points into the game without needing the offense to be built around him. The 5-star freshman forward has spent his high school career showing he can score at all three levels, and at 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, he brings a polished offensive package for a young player.
His dribble creation, fluid movement, and body control stand out, and there’s a real chance he can put up double figures off the bench. If that happens, it could be a major boost for a Tar Heels team trying to become a force in the ACC.
Next up is former LSU commit Dean Thomas, who might end up being one of the more fascinating pieces on the roster. At 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds, he brings springiness and athleticism, but his offensive game is still a work in progress.
Where he should make his biggest mark right away is on defense. Thomas has quick hands, elusive feet, and a knack for creating problems for opposing players.
How many minutes he earns will be worth watching, but the best-case path is clear: become a reliable 3-and-D option for Malone and the staff.
The final bench name is Luka Brizzi, and he arrives with the kind of veteran résumé that can quietly matter a lot. North Carolina added him in July after its transfer portal activity stretched beyond the original two-week window.
Brizzi has now played for four programs in four years, and UNC will be the fifth stop of his college career. Last season, the 6-foot-3, 193-pound guard averaged 14.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three.
That perimeter shooting stands out because North Carolina lacked steady efficiency from deep in 2025. With multiple playmakers around him, Brizzi should have a clean role as a catch-and-shoot option on the wing.
In Other News...
UNC Quarterback Battle Just Became A Bigger Deal Before Week 1
North Carolinas quarterback competition is still very much alive as Week 1 approaches, with Billy Edwards Jr. and Miles ONeill trying to separate themselves in the final stretch before the opener. The Tar Heels have leaned into the battle all summer, and it has turned into one of the most important decisions of the preseason because the winner will be asked to settle the offense quickly once the games count.
ONeill, the Texas A&M transfer, brings intriguing arm talent and athleticism even if his college passing rsum is still light, while Edwards offers the benefit of experience. The hope in Chapel Hill has to be that the competition is settled before the season begins, because carrying uncertainty at quarterback into September can complicate everything around it. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Could Not Bring Seth Trimble Back After Brutal Roster Twist
The late roster shakeup around Seth Trimbles future gave North Carolina a familiar kind of offseason headache, the sort that turns a straightforward return into a complicated numbers game. After the ruling that granted certain seniors an additional year of eligibility, Trimble announced he will transfer to Louisville, closing the door on what had been a possible path back to Chapel Hill.
Michael Malone said the timing of the ruling created challenges for both the player and the program, and he made clear there were no hard feelings attached to the decision. In the end, North Carolina simply did not have the room to bring Trimble back, leaving him to find a new home even as the Tar Heels try to settle their own roster after an especially disruptive twist. [Read more 🡒]
UNC May Have Found The Unit Bill Belichick Can Lean On
UNCs defense has been shaped around keeping its front intact and adding more help where it matters most. Melkart Abou Jaoude is back, and the Tar Heels also brought in transfers Jaylen Harvey and Tarvorise Brown, giving the line a better chance to hold up over the course of the season. Around Chapel Hill, that group has quickly become one of the more interesting parts of the roster because it has the potential to steady the entire defense.
Derek McDonald recently pointed to the pass rush as a key to how far this team can go, and thats the part Bill Belichick will be watching closely. If UNC can get consistent pressure with the defensive line, it changes everything behind it and gives the rest of the defense a chance to play more aggressively. The talent and continuity are there now, but the bigger question is whether this unit can turn promise into a real edge on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]