UNC Basketball Roster Reset: Who Left, Who Returned and Who Arrived

North Carolina’s first roster under Michael Malone is not a small renovation. It is a nearly complete reset.

Only five players from the 2025–26 team appear on UNC’s new 16-man roster: Jarin Stevenson, Jaydon Young, Evan Smith, John Holbrook and Isaiah Denis. The other 11 spots belong to newcomers assembled after Hubert Davis’ departure and Malone’s arrival.

That much turnover can make even familiar names difficult to track. Here is the full reset.

Who left

Caleb Wilson — Chicago Bulls, No. 4 NBA Draft pick

Henri Veesaar — Atlanta Hawks, No. 52 NBA Draft pick

Seth Trimble — Louisville

Derek Dixon — Arizona

Jonathan Powell — Pittsburgh

Kyan Evans — Minnesota

Zayden High — South Florida

James Brown — Howard

Luka Bogavac — Oklahoma State

Ivan Matlekovic — Entered transfer portal; destination unverified

Elijah Davis — No longer listed after his senior season

The two NBA departures remove the most proven frontcourt production from last season. Wilson became UNC’s first top-five draft selection since 2005 when Chicago took him fourth overall. Veesaar followed in the second round, going 52nd before his rights were traded to Atlanta.

Trimble’s departure unfolded differently. After four seasons at UNC, a late eligibility development created a path to play a fifth college season. Louisville officially added him in August, giving the Cardinals a veteran guard who averaged 14 points for Carolina last season.

Seven other players from last year’s roster moved into the portal. Dixon landed at Arizona, Powell at Pittsburgh, Evans at Minnesota, High at South Florida, Brown at Howard and Bogavac at Oklahoma State. Matlekovic also entered the portal, but no destination has been publicly confirmed.

There was one additional recruiting change that should be kept separate from the returning roster. Five-star guard Dylan Mingo signed with UNC under Davis but later decommitted after the coaching transition. He never played for Carolina, so he is not an outgoing member of last season’s team.

Who stayed

Stevenson is the most experienced returning scholarship player and the only holdover who started regularly last season. Denis and Young briefly entered the portal before withdrawing and returning to Chapel Hill. Holbrook and Evan Smith provide continuity deeper on the roster.

That group gives Malone some institutional memory, but it will not define the team alone. UNC needed immediate experience, perimeter creation and an entirely new center rotation.

Who arrived

Terrence Brown — Utah

Matt Able — NC State

Neo Avdalas — Virginia Tech

Angelo Brizzi — Buffalo

Cameron Fens — South Dakota

Cade Bennerman — Northwestern

Alexandros Samodurov — Panathinaikos

Maximo Adams — Freshman

Sayon Keita — Freshman

Malloy Smith — Freshman

Kevin Thomas — Freshman

The six college transfers supply most of the roster’s established Division I experience. Brown and Brizzi add veteran guard play. Able and Avdalas bring size and versatility to the perimeter. Bennerman and Fens were recruited to help rebuild the frontcourt, although Fens remains ineligible for games while UNC awaits a resolution of his case.

Samodurov arrives after playing professionally for Panathinaikos in Greece. UNC lists him as a junior, but this will be his first season in college basketball. Keita, a 7-foot-1 freshman developed in FC Barcelona’s system, gives Malone another international frontcourt option.

Adams, Smith and Thomas complete the freshman group. Adams stayed with UNC through the coaching change, while Smith and Thomas joined the class during Malone’s rebuild.

The result is a roster with a familiar name across the front of the jersey but very little shared college history. Malone is not simply replacing Wilson, Veesaar or Trimble player for player. He must create a new hierarchy from five holdovers, six transfers and five newcomers without previous Division I experience.

That is the essential context for every preseason debate about UNC. The talent questions matter, but so do chemistry, role definition and how quickly 11 new players learn to function as one team.