North Carolina’s 2026-27 men’s basketball roster features five returning players and 11 newcomers, consisting of four freshmen, six college transfers, and one international addition.
The Tar Heels, led by first-year head coach Michael Malone, will tip off their preseason on October 9 against Southern California at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro.
The core group of returners from last season’s 24-9 squad includes seniors Jarin Stevenson, Jaydon Young, and Evan Smith, junior John Holbrook, and sophomore Isaiah Denis. Among the newcomers, Malone added experienced transfers: graduate students Angelo Brizzi (Buffalo) and Cameron Fens (South Dakota), senior Terrence Brown (Utah), and sophomores Matt Able, Neo Avdalas, and Cade Bennerman (Northwestern).
Completing the roster are junior Alexandros Samodurov from Greece and four freshmen: Maximo Adams, Sayon Keita, Malloy Smith, and Kevin Thomas. The group adds to the program’s international history, with Avdalas and Samodurov becoming the first Tar Heels from Greece, while Keita is just the second player from Africa to play at UNC.
Fun Facts
Isaiah Denis has traded his freshman No. 5 for the No. 2 jersey.
John Holbrook makes history as the first Tar Heel to wear No. 99, shattered the previous record high of 55 held by Matt Wenstrom, Wade Moody, Christian Keeling, and Harrison Ingram. Malloy Smith continues a family legacy with No. 30, following his All-American father Kenny and brother K.J.
Neo Avdalas is the first player to don No. 17 since Bill White in 1950. Cameron Fens becomes the fifth Tar Heel to wear No. 54, the first since Vasco Evtimov in the late ’90s.
