Everything you need to know about UNC basketball transfer portal moves so far

North Carolina could lose at least six players from its roster this offseason following a wave of transfer portal entries this week.

The entries into the portal follow two seismic developments in Chapel Hill: Hubert Davis’s firing days after UNC’s first-round NCAA Tournament loss to VCU and North Carolina hiring Michael Malone as its next head coach. The coaching uncertainty pushed many players to explore their options, though several have left the door open to return.

Which UNC basketball players are entering the transfer portal?

Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young were the first Tar Heels to announce their intent to enter the portal. Derek Dixon and Jonathan Powell followed on Monday. Kyan Evans, Zayden High and James Brown were the latest to announce Tuesday.

Dixon, a 6-foot-5 freshman point guard from Vienna, Virginia, is the most significant name on the list. He appeared in all 33 games this season, averaging 6.5 points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds. After coming off the bench early in the year, Dixon earned a starting role during North Carolina’s road trip to California in January and held on to it the rest of the season. He shot nearly 40% from three and led the Tar Heels in free-throw percentage at 81.8% and assist/turnover ratio at 2.33.

“This has been one of the best years of my life and has been a journey that I will always remember,” Dixon wrote on Instagram. “I want to thank Coach Davis for believing in me and all my teammates for making this such a special season.”

Powell, a 6-foot-6 sophomore guard who transferred from West Virginia last offseason, averaged 4.8 points in 16.3 minutes per game and proved to be a reliable 3-point shooter off the bench. He made at least one 3-pointer in 24 games. UNC was 10-0 when he hit multiple 3-pointers.

“I’m thankful for how the year went but with that being said I will be entering the transfer portal with the option to return,” Powell wrote on X.

Evans, a junior guard who came to UNC from Colorado State, started the first 17 games before Dixon replaced him. He finished the season averaging four points, 2.5 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game while shooting 32.8% from the floor — a steep drop from the 47.1% he shot as a sophomore at Colorado State.

Young, a junior guard from Goldsboro, N.C., transferred to North Carolina from Virginia Tech. During his one season in Chapel Hill, he averaged 1.8 points in 7.2 minutes per game across 31 appearances and four starts. His best game came Jan. 10 against Wake Forest, when he scored 12 points in 20 minutes. Although he initially entered the portal, Young announced Friday night he would return for a second season in UNC.

High, a 6-foot-10 redshirt sophomore, returned to the team this past season after serving a yearlong suspension for violating the campus policy on sexual exploitation. He averaged 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds last season, although his production picked up as Caleb Wilson’s injury forced him into more minutes.

Brown, a 6-10, 240-pound forward, played in 27 games over the past two years. A right foot injury limited him to nine games as a sophomore this season. He had surgery on his foot in February.

Denis, a former four-star prospect out of Charlotte, appeared in 10 games as a freshman guard at UNC.

Why are so many Tar Heels entering the transfer portal?

Coaching uncertainty is a common thread. Several players explicitly cited the transition as their reason for exploring options — all while keeping the door open to come back.

“UNC is a special place,” Denis wrote in his announcement. “That is why even though I intend to enter the transfer portal due to the coaching uncertainty, I’m keeping the option open to return to UNC.”

Dixon and Powell also specified they are entering the portal “with the option to return” to UNC.

The surge is also reflective of national trends: NIL-driven movement and immediate eligibility have made transferring both easier and more appealing. With a condensed 15-day window opening right after the NCAA tournament, players are incentivized to enter quickly to secure roles, minutes and compensation elsewhere — or negotiate those aspects for a return to the same program.

What does Dixon’s portal entry mean for UNC basketball?

Dixon’s potential departure carries the most weight for the program’s near-term outlook.

The freshman delivered clutch moments throughout the season, including late-game buckets in a road win over Kentucky in December and the assist on Seth Trimble’s buzzer-beater against Duke in February.

Dixon led the team in assists (90) and recorded the second-most 3-pointers on the team (47), behind Luka Bogavac (52).

After he was pressed into UNC’s starting point guard role midseason, Dixon averaged 8.5 points and 3.5 assists. He closed strong at 14.7 points per game on 57% 3-point shooting over his final three games.

Dixon’s portal entry leaves UNC facing a decision at point guard: either make a compelling NIL/role pitch to keep the freshman, or move to land a proven transfer to run the offense if he leaves.

What comes next for UNC under Michael Malone?

With the dead period ending, UNC’s urgency is twofold — retaining key Tar Heel players who are weighing the portal (or pro ranks) and identifying targets in the portal.

Staffing is the other front. With Chuck Martin set to join Malone as associate head coach, the focus turns to rounding out the bench.

However the staff ultimately takes shape, those hires will help determine which portal targets are true fits for Malone.

“We have some players on the roster that are currently in the portal,” Malone said during his introductory press conference Tuesday. “We’re going to talk to them more about that in the coming days, and then we’ll look to see what’s available outside.”

This story was originally published April 10, 2026 at 6:15 AM.