North Carolina has made another important addition to its roster, landing veteran transfer guard Angelo Brizzi in a late offseason move that gives the Tar Heels more depth and experience heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Brizzi announced his commitment to UNC and first-year head coach Michael Malone on Wednesday after taking an official visit to Chapel Hill in June. While the Tar Heels had already assembled a talented roster through the transfer portal and high school recruiting, adding a proven college guard this late in the offseason provides another reliable option for Malone as he prepares for his debut season.
The commitment marks another chapter in Brizzi’s unique college basketball journey. The 6-foot-3 guard will suit up for his fifth program in five years after previous stops at Villanova, Davidson, Longwood and Buffalo. Although his path has included several transfers, Brizzi has consistently gained valuable experience and developed into a productive scorer capable of making an impact at the high-major level.
Last season at Buffalo, Brizzi enjoyed the best offensive campaign of his collegiate career. He averaged 14.5 points per game while shooting an efficient 48 percent from the field. He also knocked down 50 three-pointers on 134 attempts, good for 37.3 percent from beyond the arc, while converting an impressive 83.5 percent of his free throws.
His ability to heat up from long range made him one of Buffalo’s most dangerous offensive weapons. Brizzi produced several memorable performances during the season, including a career-high 27-point outing against Massachusetts. He followed that with another explosive effort, scoring 26 points against South Alabama. Across those two contests, he connected on 12 of his 22 attempts from three-point range, showcasing the perimeter shooting that could prove valuable in North Carolina’s offense.
Consistency was another highlight of Brizzi’s season. He reached the 20-point mark eight times and finished with 25 double-digit scoring performances. While he was held below five points in four games, his overall production demonstrated that he can provide instant offense when given opportunities.
Brizzi also contributed on the defensive end of the floor. His quick hands helped him record a team-high 58 steals for Buffalo, illustrating his ability to create turnovers and disrupt opposing offenses. That defensive activity should fit well with Malone’s emphasis on energy and aggressive play.
One of the biggest developments for Brizzi came earlier this summer when he received an additional year of eligibility. The NCAA granted him another season after considering the nine games he played as a redshirt freshman at Villanova. That ruling allowed North Carolina to pursue an experienced player who otherwise might have exhausted his collegiate eligibility.
Brizzi was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and attracted attention from several Atlantic Coast Conference programs during his original recruitment. North Carolina showed interest before he ultimately chose Villanova. Years later, that connection has finally come full circle, giving both player and program an opportunity to work together.
The addition further strengthens an already impressive transfer class assembled by the Tar Heels. North Carolina previously welcomed Matt Able from NC State, Neoklis Avdalas from Virginia Tech, Cade Bennerman from Northwestern and Terrence Brown from Utah. Each newcomer brings a different skill set, giving Malone significant flexibility as he builds his rotations.
Among those transfers, Able, Avdalas and Brown are expected to handle much of the backcourt workload. Both Able and Avdalas possess the versatility to play multiple positions, allowing the coaching staff to experiment with different lineups throughout the early portion of the season. Their size and athleticism should create matchup advantages against many opponents.
North Carolina also returns several familiar faces. Isaiah Dennis, Jaydon Young and Jarin Stevenson remain important pieces of the roster, with Stevenson projected to occupy a starting role after showing continued development. Their experience within the program should help ease the transition under a new coaching staff.
Brizzi is unlikely to arrive with the expectation of immediately earning a starting position. Instead, he projects as one of the first guards off the bench, providing valuable scoring punch and outside shooting whenever the Tar Heels need an offensive spark. His catch-and-shoot ability makes him an ideal complementary piece alongside North Carolina’s primary playmakers.
There are still areas where Brizzi will look to improve. Throughout his college career, ball security has occasionally been an issue. Only once has he finished a season with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, and last season he recorded 57 assists while committing a team-high 67 turnovers. As a result, North Carolina will likely use him more as a scoring guard than as a primary ball handler.
Beyond the transfer portal, the Tar Heels have continued to invest in young talent. High school recruits Maximo Adams, Kevin Thomas and Malloy Smith—son of former North Carolina star Kenny Smith—add promising depth for the future. International prospects Alexandros Samodurov of Greece and Sayon Keita, who developed with FC Barcelona, further enhance the program’s long-term outlook.
With another experienced player now joining an already talented roster, North Carolina enters the 2026-27 season with increased depth, improved perimeter shooting and greater lineup flexibility. Brizzi may not be the headline addition of the offseason, but his experience, scoring ability and defensive activity could make him one of the Tar Heels’ most valuable role players as Michael Malone begins a new era in Chapel Hill.
