Michael Malone and UNC still have work to do in the frontcourt, and a familiar name may have just become worth a serious look.
The Tar Heels have added pieces at center for the 2026-2027 season, including Sayon Keita, who has not yet arrived on campus, and Alexandros Samodurov. But neither one fits the mold of a true bruising big, which leaves a clear question mark in the middle as the offseason rolls on.
That’s why Friday’s news about Jalen Washington stands out. The former Tar Heel, now at Vanderbilt, was granted an injunction that will allow him to play in the 2026-2027 college basketball season under the NCAA’s new “5 for 5 rule,” according to court documents. Washington remains available in the transfer portal and would be entering his fifth year of eligibility.
Vanderbilt center Jalen Washington has been granted an injunction against the NCAA to play the 2026-27 college basketball season, per court docs.
Remains availble in the transfer portal. Will be his 5th year of eligibility. https://t.co/qCR2itjxTd pic.twitter.com/dYqtrtAxeo
- Pete Nakos (@Pete_Nakos) July 31, 2026
Washington could still choose to stay at Vanderbilt, but UNC should already be checking whether there’s any interest in a return to Chapel Hill. He graduated with his undergraduate degree from North Carolina, and the fit is obvious on paper.
Washington is a player the Tar Heels know well. He worked hard and improved over the course of his college career, though his three seasons at UNC were limited by injuries and a lack of playing time. A big reason for that was Armando Bacot, who soaked up most of the minutes at center during Washington’s time in Chapel Hill.
He has mostly come off the bench throughout his college career, but a return to UNC would offer something different: a chance to come back “home” and compete for a starting job.
There’s also the physical profile. Washington is listed at 6-foot-10, 245 pounds on Vanderbilt’s official website, making him the heaviest center option UNC has right now. He would give the Tar Heels another body who can play with force inside while still bringing some ability to stretch the floor.
Of course, there are reasons he left in the first place. Still, this is the kind of opportunity Malone should at least explore. UNC’s current setup is not the one Washington walked away from after the 2024-2025 season, and the presence of a proven NBA championship head coach could make the situation more appealing.
It may be a long shot, but Washington looks like the kind of frontcourt piece UNC needs to finish the roster.
In Other News...
Old UNC Football Quote Just Became Even More Embarrassing
Michael Lombardis return to college football already came with plenty of skepticism, but his old promise about North Carolina looking like the NFLs 33rd team has only aged worse with time. The line sounded bold when it was first delivered, a grand statement about standards, structure and pro-level evaluation for a program trying to elevate its image under a new football vision.
Instead, last season became a harsh reminder of how far the Tar Heels still had to go, with no players selected in the NFL Draft and growing criticism of Lombardis approach from inside and around the program, according to The Athletic. The disconnect between the aspiration and the on-field reality has made that quote linger for all the wrong reasons, especially as questions continue to follow his personnel decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Belichick Just Made A UNC Move Fans Should Watch Closely
Brandon Bolden is back around football in a role that should look familiar to anyone who followed his NFL career. The former running back, who made a living doing a little of everything and built a reputation on special teams, is serving as a special teams coach at North Carolina during the Tar Heels 2026 training camp.
For UNC, it is another interesting addition in a camp that has already drawn attention for how the staff is taking shape under Bill Belichick. The open question now is whether Boldens presence is only a training-camp arrangement or something that carries into the regular season, which is the part Tar Heels fans will want to watch closely. [Read more 🡒]