How will UNC basketball’s rebuild look like without Henri Veesaar, Caleb Wilson?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Caleb Wilson and several teammates left UNC; some committed elsewhere via the portal.
- Michael Malone secured portal commitments including Terrence Brown, Matt Able.
- Incoming class features high school prospects Maximo Adams, Malloy Smith, and Sayon Keita.
The day before he departed Chapel Hill, Caleb Wilson got together with eight of his (at this point, former) teammates for some pickup hoops. It was last Wednesday at Rams Head Recreation Center where Wilson and his friends took on a motley crew of UNC students who dared to jump with the varsity hoopers.
It was a final goodbye for Wilson and, in many ways, his other teammates who joined him there. Wilson was joined by Kyan Evans (Minnesota), Jonathan Powell (Pitt), Zayden High (USF), Derek Dixon (Arizona) — all of whom have already committed to other programs in the portal. Elijah Davis, also there, is out of eligibility. Jaydon Young and Isaiah Denis were the only two attendees who have elected to stick around Chapel Hill under new coach Michael Malone’s leadership.
They’ll be returning to a vastly different team this fall, one without Henri Veesaar, Seth Trimble, Wilson, James Brown, High, Luka Bogavac, Powell, Dixon, Evans and Ivan Matlekovic. The only familiar face, outside of Denis and Young, is Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson.
Malone used the NCAA transfer portal to get commitments from:
- Terrence Brown (Utah)
- Matt Able (N.C. State)
- Maxim Logue (FAU)*
- Cade Bennerman (Northwestern)
- Neoklis Avdalas (Virginia Tech)
Other incomers include 5-star small forward Maximo Adams from Sierra Canyon and Malloy Smith, son of UNC legend Kenny Smith. Those two are coming from the high school ranks, and will be joined by 7-footer Sayon Keita, the 18-year-old out of the FC Barcelona program.
The NCAA’s Division I board of directors met Monday to discuss the proposal to allow a fifth year of eligibility for athletes. But the “five-in-five” rule would not be implemented retroactively, which would have allowed senior guard Seth Trimble a fifth year.
There’s an asterisk by Logue for a reason. More on that later.
A look (so far) at next season’s UNC roster:
Possible starters
Malone and his staff have been focused on a roster overhaul since the former Denver Nuggets coach took the reins. And he’s been doing so with an incomplete staff, given Kim English’s departure after a few days on the job.
Now, roughly three weeks into the job, it appears Malone’s starting five is coming into focus.
Brown, Able and Avdalas should make up the starting perimeter. Stevenson and Adams are both solid hybrid forwards, and each would slot in well at the “4.” That leaves the center as the last key position Malone had to fill in his starting lineup.
Keita’s commitment on Tuesday night, by all indications, should solve that problem. The top international prospect has tons of upside, but may take a bit of time to adjust to the college basketball game.
Biggest needs
North Carolina’s biggest needs are in the post, where the Tar Heels are still working to build depth.
That’s been the main focus as of late for Malone and Co., although there have be some complications on the recruiting trail.
UNC is parting ways with Logue, the transfer forward pickup from FAU. As previously reported by Inside Carolina, Logue’s status has been up in the air due to complications in his pre-enrollment process at North Carolina.
Blips of this kind are not uncommon in the transfer portal era. Triangle sports fans likely remember Caleb Love’s brief commitment to Michigan, before a reported admissions issue forced the former Tar Heel standout to change paths and venture further west to join Tommy Lloyd’s Arizona squad.
A spokesperson for UNC athletics declined to comment on Logue’s status and Logue’s agent did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the N&O.
The Tar Heels’ ceiling in the post has lowered dramatically since Veesaar’s announcement that he would not be returning to North Carolina for a senior season. With Veesaar off to the NBA, Malone has continued his search for an experienced big man.
A source confirmed to the N&O that Malone and associate head coach Chuck Martin are traveling to France this week — the duo was previously in Spain to meet with Keita — to recruit Paris Basketball center Momo Faye.
Faye is three years older than Keita and would bring more pro experience to the Tar Heels.
Best returning player
Stevenson is the sole returning starter for the Tar Heels (if you discount the four games Young started) and provides versatility on both ends.
The junior’s return gives Malone an experienced role player and some continuity entering his first year coaching in Chapel Hill.
Stevenson started 25 games in his first season at North Carolina after transferring from Alabama. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per game last year.
In the Tar Heels’ final eight games of the season— which Wilson missed due to injury — Stevenson averaged 10.4 points and 6.6 rebounds.