North Carolina

Eight stories explain UNC men's basketball roster building in the 2025 offseason

Stories by News & Observer journalists, with AI summarization

The curated articles all highlight how the UNC men’s basketball team is undergoing major changes in the 2025 offseason. Transfers, NBA draft departures, and some player returns challenge the traditional approach to roster building. Coach Hubert Davis and the program’s administrators react to new rules, financial pressures, and a shifting player market to maintain competitiveness.

One forward leaves UNC and transfers directly to rival N.C. State, surprising many. Jarin Stevenson, after a year at Alabama, reverses course and commits to North Carolina as a transfer. Another rotation player, Elliot Cadeau, enters the transfer portal and lands at Michigan, leaving a gap in the backcourt. Drake Powell declares for the NBA Draft and ends up with the Brooklyn Nets after a trade. Team leaders evaluate options in the transfer portal and bring in new faces. Meanwhile, the return of senior Seth Trimble poses new questions about player image use under changing NIL rules. North Carolina also brings in a new general manager, marking a shift in roster management. These moves collectively illustrate how UNC adapts to new realities in college basketball.

North Carolina coach Hubert Davis instructs guard Elliot Cadeau (3) in closing minutes of play against Duke on Friday, March 14, 2025 during the semifinals of the ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. By Robert Willett

NO. 1: BACKCOURT OVERHAUL: FORMER UNC GUARD ELLIOT CADEAU FINDS NEW HOME; HEELS SEEK REPLACEMENTS

The North Carolina Tar Heels knew they were losing guard RJ Davis after this season as his eligibility clock expired. But Elliot Cadeau, after two seasons with UNC, announced where he’ll play next season as a transfer. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chip Alexander

North Carolina guard Ian Jackson (11) drives to the basket against Virginia’s Blake Buchanan (0) and Andrew Rohde (4) in the first half on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. By Robert Willett

NO. 2: REPORTS: NORTH CAROLINA FRESHMAN IAN JACKSON MAKES DECISION TO ENTER TRANSFER PORTAL

Jackson was at times an explosive scorer for the Tar Heels but had his playing time and productivity dip late in the season. | Published April 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chip Alexander

Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson (15) positions himself for a rebound against BYU forward Mihalio Boskovic (5) in the second half of their Sweet 16 game on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. By Robert Willett

NO. 3: UNC BASKETBALL BRINGING TRANSFER JARIN STEVENSON BACK FROM ALABAMA, REPORTS SAY

Chapel Hill native, a former UNC recruit, chose Alabama over the Tar Heels in 2023 but entered the transfer portal after this season. | Published April 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chip Alexander

UNC’s Zayden High (1) in action for the Tar Heels in a 2023 game in the Smith Center. By Robert Willett

NO. 4: UNC BASKETBALL PLAYER ZAYDEN HIGH SUSPENDED FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, KEPT TEAM PERKS

High filmed a fellow student without consent during a sexual encounter, according to the student, additional sources and documentation obtained by The N&O. | Published May 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Korie Dean, The News & Observer Shelby Swanson, correspondent

North Carolina’s Ven-Allen Lubin (22) tries for a three-pointer as time runs down in Duke’s 74-71 victory over UNC in the semifinals of the 2025 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, March 14, 2025. By Ethan Hyman

NO. 5: OFFSEASON ROSTER TURNOVER GIVES REASON FOR TRIANGLE HOOPS OPTIMISM ... AGAIN

Amid the tremendous amount of players in and out at Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State — both, in the case of Ven-Allen Lubin — the overall talent level seems to be on the rise. | Published June 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Luke DeCock

North Carolina’s Drake Powell (9) saves the ball from going out bounds during the second half of Duke’s 74-71 victory over UNC in the semifinals of the 2025 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, March 14, 2025. By Ethan Hyman

NO. 6: UNC’S DRAKE POWELL SELECTED WITH NBA DRAFT’S NO. 22 PICK, TRADED TO BROOKLYN

Drake Powell, an NC native, emerged as a key starter for North Carolina in the later half of the year thanks to his defensive intensity. | Published June 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Caroline Wills

North Carolina guard Seth Trimble (7) drives to the basket against San Diego State’s Wayne McKinney III (3) and Miles Byrd (21) in the first half during the NCAA First Four on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. By Robert Willett

NO. 7: IN POST-HOUSE WORLD, A SIMPLE THING LIKE A PLAYER’S PHOTO IS A MAZE TO NAVIGATE

North Carolina wanted to use Seth Trimble’s image in a graphic announcing a nonconference game. Turns out, in the new world of college athletics, Trimble gets a say in that now. | Published June 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Luke DeCock

North Carolina coach Hubert Davis listens to questions about recruiting during a press availability on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 in Chapel Hill, N.C. By Robert Willett

NO. 8: CHANGES IN UNC BASKETBALL PROGRAM REFLECT HUBERT DAVIS’ TENUOUS POSITION

The single most important season of Hubert Davis’ coaching career so far, the one that will determine not only his future but perhaps the future of a North Carolina basketball program at risk of slipping from among the elite, begins amid a wave of change in an institution that was built upon — and relied upon — a bedrock of tradition and continuity that goes back decades. | Published September 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Luke DeCock

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.