The North Carolina Tar Heels are finally seeing their 2026-27 men’s basketball roster take shape, giving Michael Malone a talented group in Year One.
UNC gained an international star in Sayon Keita last week, with Malone landing the Malian big man from FC Barcelona. North Carolina lost Florida Atlantic transfer Maxim Logue, who rescinded his commitment, but no starts in 49 appearances lessens that blow a bit.
With six months until college basketball season starts, what are experts saying about the Tar Heels? In Jon Rothstein’s latest offseason “Rothstein 45” rankings, UNC lands 26th.
North Carolina is one spot behind Indiana, which reloaded with a few transfers itself and one slot ahead of BYU, which returns star guard Robert Wright.
Rothstein projects the Tar Heels’ roster, which currently carries nine players, to include a starting lineup of Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas, Utah transfer Terrence Brown, NC State transfer Matt Able, returning senior Jarin Stevenson and Keita himself.
Today’s ROTHSTEIN 45 is LIVE.
TOP 10:
1. Florida
2. Illinois
3. Duke
4. Michigan
5. UConn
6. Arizona
7. Michigan State
8. Gonzaga
9. Virginia
10. TexasCC: @FDSportsbook,@FanDuelResearch.https://t.co/Qek0R1gFWh
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 2, 2026
Projected to come off the UNC bench? Returning guards Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young, incoming 4-star wing Maximo Adams and 7-foot Northwestern transfer Cade Bennerman.
North Carolina can still add guys currently in the portal, with a big need still in the frontcourt. Malone, the longtime Denver Nuggets head coach and 2023 NBA Champion, is working hard to build a competitor in his first offseason.
According to the Fayetteville Observer, the Tar Heels have non-conference games scheduled against Western Carolina, Wofford, Marshall, The Citadel, Wyoming, Kentucky, Georgia, Butler and Georgetown.
It’s currently college baseball season, followed by football season after a much-needed summer break. Before you know it, UNC will kick off its 2026-27 basketball campaign, one which fans have high expectations for.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball lands 26th in Jon Rothstein’s offseason Top 45