UNC basketball: Roster rebuild highlights 2024 changes

The articles focus on UNC's major basketball roster changes. They highlight how transfers, departures, and a few returns are shaping the team under coach Hubert Davis. Most stories discuss the way player movement changes the team's size, experience, and style.

Jarin Stevenson will transfer from Alabama to UNC. He aims to fill a gap in UNC's frontcourt. New transfer Henri Veesaar, coming from Arizona, joins the team as a center. Forward Ven-Allen Lubin entered the transfer portal and landed at N.C. State. Caleb Wilson, a five-star recruit, will enter as a freshman forward. Guard Ian Jackson leaves UNC to join St. John's after a year of strong shooting and scoring. Drake Powell chooses to remain in the NBA Draft, ending his UNC career. Kyan Evans, after two years at Colorado State, arrives expecting to contribute as a guard. Hubert Davis responds to last year’s team needs by adding more size and versatility. Only Seth Trimble returns as an experienced guard. R.J. Davis is not coming back. The offseason's moves reflect the transfer-heavy approach now common in college basketball.

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. 1: 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. 2: 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

NO. 3: FORMER UNC GUARD IAN JACKSON LANDS AT ST. JOHN’S; ANOTHER TAR HEEL ENTERS PORTAL

While St. John’s landed another high-profile transfer portal addition in former UNC standout Ian Jackson, the Tar Heels saw yet another roster player enter the portal Monday. | Published April 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Justin Pelletier

North Carolina forward Drake Powell (9) gets a dunk in the first half against Virginia on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. By Robert Willett

NO. 4: UNC’S DRAKE POWELL MAKES DECISION ON NBA DRAFT, FUTURE WITH TAR HEELS

NC native Drake Powell was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, and he played one season for coach Hubert Davis with the Tar Heels. | Published May 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jadyn Watson-Fisher

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

UNC Jayvee basketball coach Hubert Davis huddles with those trying out for the team on the first of two days of tryouts on Thursday October 3, 2013 at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. By Robert Willett

NO. 6: AS HOUSE SETTLEMENT SPELLS END FOR UNC JV BASKETBALL, ALUMNI EXPRESS REGRET

It’s the time of year, at the end of every summer for 52 years, when the call would go out — in dorms, at Woollen Gym, and in more recent decades on North Carolina’s website. | Published August 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Luke DeCock

North Carolina coach Hubert Davis reacts after being questioned about recruiting Luke Bogavac from Montenegro during a press availability on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 in Chapel Hill, N.C. By Robert Willett

NO. 7: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT UNC BASKETBALL ROSTER REBUILD UNDER HUBERT DAVIS

R.J. | Published September 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shelby Swanson

Mar 23, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Colorado State Rams guard Kyan Evans (0) reacts against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

NO. 8: FROM DOUBLE CLUTCH TO DEAN DOME: HOW KYAN EVANS IS READY TO BOOST TAR HEELS

Kyan Evans doesn’t remember exactly how old he was — third or fourth grade, maybe — but one practice after North Carolina’s 2016 national championship loss is still clear in his mind. | Published September 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shelby Swanson

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.