With UNC basketball among finalists, 5-star recruit Dylan Mingo makes his choice
North Carolina landed one of the nation’s top prospects Tuesday morning when five-star point guard Dylan Mingo announced his commitment to the Tar Heels on ESPN’s “First Take.”
Mingo, a 6-foot-5 senior from Long Island Lutheran in Glen Head, New York, is a consensus top-10 recruit in the 2026 class. He chose UNC over finalists Baylor, Penn State and Washington.
The 190-pound guard gives UNC coach Hubert Davis a marquee backcourt addition in the 2026 cycle and joins wing Maximo Adams in the incoming class.
“I chose North Carolina for North Carolina itself,” Mingo said on ESPN’s “First Take” on Tuesday. “Seeing everything after they won the (Duke) game (on Feb. 7) had a huge impact on my decision. It’s so joyful. The players looked so joyful. If you heard Seth Trimble and Caleb Wilson, if you heard them speak after, they talked about how much they loved their community and loved North Carolina. They would do anything for it.”
Mingo is widely regarded as a big, versatile guard with advanced feel and playmaking ability on and off the ball. He averaged nearly 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals a game on the Nike EYBL circuit and is considered a disruptive perimeter defender with the length to ability to guard multiple positions.
His perimeter shooting needs the most development but is also a point of tremendous upside — both for him and the Tar Heels.
UNC assistants Sean May and Marcus Paige were in attendance to watch Mingo as recently as January in the HoopHall Classic, per Rivals’ Jamie Shaw, underscoring the staff’s emphasis on the New York standout. Mingo took multiple official visits, including a November trip to Chapel Hill where he attended UNC’s win over N.C. Central.
“On my visit, I felt how family-oriented everything was,” Mingo said on ESPN. “The coaches just made me feel welcomed. The team was super nice. I hung out with the team for a bit. They were all connected. I didn’t feel any animosity. And the legacy of North Carolina, that was a dream of mine since I was a kid.”
Mingo’s commitment marks a significant recruiting win for the Tar Heels as they continue building toward 2026 with elite perimeter talent. Senior guard Seth Trimble will be out of eligibility, but Mingo and current freshman Derek Dixon — assuming he stays in Chapel Hill — could pair nicely in the backcourt next season.
This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 11:59 AM.