North Carolina’s 2026-2027 men’s basketball picture got a lot clearer this week.
After the program released its non-conference schedule, UNC followed that up by unveiling the first official roster of the Michael Malone era, and it’s a deep one: 16 players are set to suit up for the Tar Heels this season.
That number naturally raises an eyebrow, since the NCAA roster limit is 15. But UNC can get to 16 because of the Designated Student-Athlete exception tied to the House v.
NCAA settlement. When the NCAA put the new roster limits in place, it also created a grandfathering exception for athletes who otherwise would have lost roster spots.
UNC had the same roster size last season, too.
The roster blends continuity and turnover. Five players are back, while 11 newcomers join the group. Six of those newcomers arrived via the transfer portal, four are true freshmen, and Alexandros Samodurov rounds out the class after playing professionally overseas.
Inside Carolina also confirmed something Michael Malone had already hinted at earlier in the week: both Samodurov and Keita have been officially cleared and will be eligible for the 2026-2027 season.
On the returning side, Jaydon Young will stay at No. 4, Jarin Stevenson at No. 15, and Evan Smith at No.
- Isaiah Denis is making a change for his sophomore year, moving from No. 5 to No. 2, while John Holbrook is taking on No.
The freshmen bring a fresh set of numbers as well. Kevin Thomas will wear No.
5, Sayon Keita No. 21, Maximo Adams No. 25, and Malloy Smith No. 30 - the same number his father, Kenny "The Jet" Smith wore during his UNC basketball career.
Among the veteran newcomers, Terrence Brown will wear No. 1, Matt Able No.
3, Angelo Brizzi No. 14, Neoklis Avdalas No.
17, Alexandros Samodurov No. 22, Cade Bennerman No. 35, and Cameron Fens No.
UNC’s 2026-2027 season officially begins on November 2, but the Tar Heels will get three exhibition games before that to get ready for the new era. The first look at this group comes on October 9, when UNC faces USC at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
2026-27 UNC Men’s Basketball Roster
1 - Terrence Brown, Sr., 6-3 180 (Minneapolis, Minn.)
2 - Isaiah Denis, So., 6-4 185 (Charlotte, N.C.)
3 - Matt Able, So., 6-5 200 (Baltimore, Md.)
4 - Jaydon Young, Sr., 6-4 200 (Goldsboro, N.C.)
5 - Kevin Thomas, Fr., 6-6 205 (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
14 - Angelo Brizzi, Gr., 6-3 200 (Warrenton, Va.)
15 - Jarin Stevenson, Sr., 6-10 220 (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
17 - Neoklis Avdalas, So., 6-9 220 (Athens, Greece)
21 - Sayon Keita, Fr., 7-1 205 (Bamako, Mali)
22 - Alexandros Samodurov, Jr., 6-11 225 (Evosmos, Greece)
25 - Maximo Adams, Fr., 6-7 220 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
30 - Malloy Smith, Fr., 6-5 180 (Encino, Calif.)
32 - Evan Smith, Sr., 6-1 200 (Charlotte, N.C.)
35 - Cade Bennerman, So., 7-0 205 (Nashville, Tenn.)
54 - Cameron Fens, Gr., 7-0 255 (Dubuque, Iowa)
99 - John Holbrook, Jr., 6-8 230 (Hickory, N.C.)
In Other News...
UNCs Overhaul Put One Huge Belichick Question Front And Center
North Carolinas offseason rebuild has been impossible to miss, and it starts with how aggressively the program attacked the transfer portal. The Tar Heels brought in a wave of experienced help, settled on Billy Edwards Jr. as the starting quarterback and reshaped the staff around Bill Belichicks vision, including swapping out Freddie Kitchens for Bobby Petrino as the offensive play-caller.
The bigger question now is how quickly all of those pieces fit together, especially with the offense still being built around Edwards Jr. and a plan to keep adding pass catchers and offensive linemen for 2026. The staff also made a point of strengthening the rushing attack and pass rush, so the next stretch is less about the roster overhaul itself and more about whether this version of the Tar Heels can turn that new structure into something that actually works on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Malones Early UNC Vision Could Change How The Tar Heels Win
Michael Malone is settling into his first season leading North Carolina, and the early shape of the roster tells you where he wants this program to go. The Tar Heels have shifted their focus toward the backcourt, using transfers to shore up guard play and give the team a different kind of backbone heading into the new season.
For a program long associated with frontcourt size and post presence, that emphasis says plenty about Malones priorities. He has been clear that toughness, effort and guard play will drive what UNC becomes next, and the real question now is how quickly those additions can turn that vision into something the Tar Heels can lean on when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen McGill Is Pushing For A Bigger UNC Role Before TCU
Jaylen McGill has spent the offseason trying to make himself harder to keep off the field, and North Carolinas sophomore running back says the work has centered on the details that coaches notice quickest. He pointed to improvement in pass protection and a growing comfort as a receiver, both signs that he is trying to become more than just another option in the backfield. With the opener against TCU set for Dublin, Ireland, McGill also sounded steady about the quarterback room and the way the offense is coming together under Bobby Petrino.
For a player looking to expand his role, those kinds of comments matter because they fit the broader tone coming out of Chapel Hill. McGill described a locker room that is tight and focused, with players buying into the standard the staff is setting. The Tar Heels still have to show it on game day, but McGills offseason message was clear: he wants a bigger piece of the offense, and he believes he is ready for the chance. [Read more 🡒]