Everyone is waiting to see who North Carolina will hire next.
Things are clear as mud right now, which is not good. Hubert Davis was fired and major names have been linked to the job, of course including Tommy Lloyd and Billy Donovan. However, no one knows if Lloyd will leave Arizona and Donovan is a question mark too. This uncertainty of course has to be weighing on the minds of players, as some big decisions are going to be made in the near future. With that said, here’s our look at four players the Tar Heels could be at risk of losing if a decision doesn’t come quickly, or if the wrong hire is made.
4. Henri Veesaar
This would be the biggest loss for the Tar Heels besides Caleb Wilson. Just like Wilson, though, Veesaar is going to be deciding whether or not to return to Chapel Hill for one more season or head to the NBA. It’s not an easy call for him, as some mocks have him as a fringe first-round pick.
However, Veesaar could end up returning for one more season in Chapel Hill – if Lloyd does get hired, though, it would bring a reunion, as Veesaar used to be a playmaker for Arizona. Might Lloyd convince him to play in the ACC next year? That’d be something to keep a close eye on.
3. Derek Dixon
Derek Dixon just wrapped up his freshman season and the former 4-star signee lived up to the hype. Dixon showed flashes of greatness this past season, but shortly after the campaign wrapped up, he had UNC fans fearing the worst with a social media post that seemed to leave the door open for him to transfer.
Losing Dixon would be a sizable setback for the Tar Heels, as he’s expected to have a huge role for this side moving forward. The thought of him and Dylan Mingo (more on him below) playing together has people quite excited. However, it’s not set in stone if that’s going to end up being the case.
2. Dylan Mingo
Speaking of Mingo, it’s not a surprise that he’s on our list here too. Despite him not being on campus yet, Mingo committed to the Tar Heels not long ago and he did so ranked five stars and the No. 2 combo guard in the country per the 247Sports Composite.
Mingo is a generational talent and he’s going to be a superstar for the Heels if he does move to campus. With the coaching change, Mingo’s future is unknown. For now, he remains committed to the Tar Heels, but depending on who’s hired, it could change everything for him.
1. Maximo Adams
Another stud who isn’t with the team yet is Maximo Adams, but the California prospect signed to play for the Tar Heels thinking Davis was going to be his coach. Adams is one of the top small forwards in the country and he’s known for being able to drill shots from all over the hardwood. He had more than 30 offers to his name, but North Carolina did enough to land his pledge. Him and Mingo are the headliners for the Heels’ 2026 group, but again, things are uncertain there for him too. Worries will be wiped away if a splash hire is made, but for now, we’re all left guessing who it might be.
