​When you tune in to UNC men’s basketball this upcoming season, expect to see a lot of fresh faces dotting the roster—ten new players in all. North Carolina has brought in another three-man high school class, featuring four-star small forwards Maximo Adams and Kevin Thomas, along with combo guard Malloy Smith. The Tar Heels have also added Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov from Europe, in addition to collegiate transfers Matt Able, Neoklis Avdalas, Terrence Brown, Cade Bennerman, and Angelo Brizzi.
In SportsCenter Next’s final 2026 recruiting class rankings, UNC sits at No. 10 overall, just one spot ahead of Oklahoma State and one behind Missouri. Arkansas tops the list, which isn’t surprising given John Calipari’s long history of recruiting. Duke, Kansas, Texas, and Michigan round out the Top Five.
Examining UNC’s latest additions, Able, Avdalas, and Brown are strong candidates to be in the starting lineup from Day One. Brown started all 32 games for Utah last season, averaging nearly 20 points per game and about four assists. Avdalas started all 31 of his Virginia Tech appearances, posting roughly 12.1 points and 4.6 assists per game, while Able contributed 8.8 points across 34 appearances as a reserve for NC State.
Keita, who spent last season with FC Barcelona, is now widely viewed as the favorite to start at center. Samodurov is likely to compete for minutes at power forward with returner Jarin Stevenson, while Adams and Thomas are expected to vie for small forward minutes against Avdalas.
New head coach Michael Malone has a proven track record of developing talent, as highlighted by his work with three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić. North Carolina appears to have a strong roster in place for Malone’s first year as a collegiate coach, a prospect that Tar Heel Nation is eagerly anticipating.
For ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes, and opinions, follow us on X at @TarHeelsWire and like our Facebook page. This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire under the headline UNC men’s basketball’s 2026 recruiting class ranked Top 10 by ESPN.