The first North Carolina basketball roster of the Michael Malone era is officially here, and there are plenty of reasons for Tar Heel fans to be excited about what is ahead.
After revealing its non-conference schedule earlier in the week, North Carolina followed up by releasing its finalized roster for the 2026-27 season on August 21.
The Tar Heels will enter the new campaign with 16 players, a number that initially appears to exceed the NCAA’s standard 15-player roster limit.
However, UNC can carry the additional player because of the Designated Student-Athlete exception established following the House v. NCAA settlement. The provision allows certain athletes who otherwise could have lost their roster spots to remain on the team without counting against the normal limit.
A Major Update on UNC’s International Big Men
One of the biggest pieces of news from the official roster release concerns North Carolina’s two international frontcourt additions.
Both Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov have officially been cleared and will be eligible to play during the 2026-27 season.
Their availability gives Malone two intriguing options in the frontcourt and adds considerable size to a roster that has undergone significant turnover.
Overall, the roster features five returning players and 11 newcomers. Six of those newcomers arrived through the transfer portal, while four are true freshmen. Samodurov represents a different path, joining the Tar Heels after playing professionally overseas.
Returning Players Have New Numbers
Several returning Tar Heels will keep their previous jersey numbers.
Jaydon Young will remain No. 4, Jarin Stevenson will continue wearing No. 15, and Evan Smith will stay with No. 32.
There are also a couple of changes.
Sophomore Isaiah Denis is moving from No. 5 to No. 2, while John Holbrook will wear No. 99 this season.
The newcomers have also received their official numbers.
UNC’s Freshmen
– Kevin Thomas — No. 5
– Sayon Keita — No. 21
– Maximo Adams — No. 25
– Malloy Smith — No. 30
Malloy Smith’s No. 30 carries some extra significance, as it is the same number his father, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, wore during his UNC career.
UNC’s Veteran Newcomers
– Terrence Brown — No. 1
– Matt Able — No. 3
– Angelo Brizzi — No. 14
– Neoklis Avdalas — No. 17
– Alexandros Samodurov — No. 22
– Cade Bennerman — No. 35
– Cameron Fens — No. 54
The Complete 2026-27 UNC Roster
No.| Player| Class| Height
1| Terrence Brown| Sr.| 6-3
2| Isaiah Denis| So.| 6-4
3| Matt Able| So.| 6-5
4| Jaydon Young| Sr.| 6-4
5| Kevin Thomas| Fr.| 6-6
14| Angelo Brizzi| Gr.| 6-3
15| Jarin Stevenson| Sr.| 6-10
17| Neoklis Avdalas| So.| 6-9
21| Sayon Keita| Fr.| 7-1
22| Alexandros Samodurov| Jr.| 6-11
25| Maximo Adams| Fr.| 6-7
30| Malloy Smith| Fr.| 6-5
32| Evan Smith| Sr.| 6-1
35| Cade Bennerman| So.| 7-0
54| Cameron Fens| Gr.| 7-0
99| John Holbrook| Jr.| 6-8
A New Era Begins in Chapel Hill
The regular season is scheduled to begin on November 2, but Tar Heel fans will not have to wait that long to see Malone’s team in action.
North Carolina is scheduled to play three exhibition games before the regular season officially begins. The first opportunity to see the new-look Tar Heels will come on October 9, when UNC faces USC at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro.
With a revamped roster, multiple newcomers, significant size in the frontcourt and both international big men officially cleared, expectations will be high as North Carolina prepares to begin the Michael Malone era.
The roster is set. Now, the attention turns to what this new-look Tar Heels team can accomplish on the court.
