North Carolina’s addition of Cameron Fens did more than fill a roster need. It also ended any real path to Micah Handlogten, even if some of the chatter after Jon Rothstein’s latest update made it sound like UNC had somehow been turned away.
Rothstein reported that Handlogten is pursuing a fifth year of eligibility for the 2026-27 season and is down to three schools: NC State, Ole Miss, and USC. He also noted that Handlogten averaged 4.1 points and 5.9 rebounds last season at Florida.
The key detail here is simple: UNC was still in the mix until Fens came off the board. The Tar Heels and Michael Malone had one opening left, and the staff was weighing Fens, Handlogten, and Duke Brennan.
Once Fens committed, the spot was gone. That was the decisive move.
This was not a case of Handlogten pushing North Carolina out of the picture. The door was open for him, just as it was for Fens, but Fens was the one who took the opportunity. He was attracted by the chance to play in the ACC, and UNC landed the stronger fit it needed in the paint.
Fens brings real production with him after averaging more than 14 points and eight rebounds last season at South Dakota in the Summit League. That kind of size and scoring gives Malone a proven center option, especially with 5-star freshman Sayon Keita still needing time to adjust to college basketball.
How the center rotation shakes out will be sorted before the season, with Sean May set to work with Fens in the lead-up to opening night. But the broader point is clear: Handlogten is still choosing among NC State, Ole Miss, and USC, and the idea that he told UNC to move on is simply wrong.
In Other News...
Seth Trimble Could Still Create An Awkward ACC Problem For UNC
Seth Trimbles next move is still unsettled, but the possibility of him taking advantage of an additional year of eligibility has already started to ripple through the ACC. The former UNC guard spent four seasons in Chapel Hill and, if he is able to play again in 2026-27, he would bring a familiar face and a proven backcourt presence back onto the market at a time when teams are always looking for experienced help.
A few programs are keeping close tabs on the situation, and the uncertainty is part of what makes it so tricky for Carolina to sort out from a distance. Trimbles eligibility hinges on NCAA rulings, and his previous run with the Washington Wizards in NBA Summer League only adds another layer to an already complicated process, leaving open the possibility that this quietly becomes an awkward conference headache for the Tar Heels. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Belichick Already Faces A Brutal Early Test At North Carolina
Bill Belichick arrived in Chapel Hill with the kind of name recognition that can change the temperature around a program overnight, but the work in front of him is the same kind that confronts every coach at North Carolina: turn a disappointing football team into one that can survive a demanding schedule. The Tar Heels are coming off a 4-8 season, and the expectation now is simple enough even if the path is not - show real improvement fast, or the questions will only get louder.
What makes this early stretch so uneasy is the way the football concerns have been layered with everything else around Belichicks arrival. North Carolina is already dealing with the pressure of a tough season ahead, and there are financial realities attached to any drastic move, which only raises the stakes if things go sideways again. For now, the Tar Heels are trying to keep the focus on results, because the margin for patience looks thin from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Repeat Hopes Just Got A Big Backcourt Spotlight
Sports Illustrateds early look at the best shooting guards for the 2026-27 season offers a useful snapshot of how much talent is about to reshape the backcourt picture across college basketball. The list includes familiar names in new places, like Blackwell heading to Duke, as well as players such as Mullins returning to Washington and others like Haggerty, Holt, Falslev, McKenney and Mobley, each expected to play major roles after strong recent stretches.
For North Carolina fans, one of the more relevant entries is Able, the transfer from NC State, whose arrival adds another layer to the Tar Heels perimeter expectations. The ranking doesnt just nod to his upside, it frames him as someone whose first season in Chapel Hill could carry real weight in determining how far this team goes, with the spotlight now squarely on how quickly he settles in and how big a role he can handle right away. [Read more 🡒]