UNC basketball salvaged its season by sneaking into the NCAA Tournament, but the Tar Heels are a program built on making the Final Four, not the First Four.
Following a 23-win year in its fourth season under head coach Hubert Davis, UNC enters the 2025-26 season with a retooled roster around senior guard Seth Trimble. RJ Davis, who will one day have his No. 4 jersey hanging from the Smith Center rafters, has completed his career and two more guards entered the transfer portal.
The Tar Heels have seen plenty of activity from both sides of the portal. Elliot Cadeau and Ian Jackson were among the players to leave, but UNC has added several transfers to fill in the gaps around a recruiting class that includes five-star forward Caleb Wilson.
TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: UNC basketball transfer portal tracker: Who is joining, leaving Tar Heels in 2025-26?
EARLY FINAL FOUR PREDICTIONS: 2026 Final Four picks: Early predictions for Duke basketball, March Madness national championship
Here’s a breakdown of what the roster could look like for the Tar Heels in Davis’ fifth season since stepping in for former coach Roy Williams.
Is Drake Powell entering the NBA Draft?
Drake Powell is arguably the most important piece of UNC’s puzzle for the 2025-26 season. As a fringe first-round pick, according to projections for the 2025 NBA Draft, Powell could make the decision to go pro after one season with the Tar Heels. If he returns, Powell gives UNC a reliable two-way threat on the wing with the potential to blossom into a star. The Heels added West Virginia wing Jonathan Powell via the transfer portal, but Drake Powell’s return could vault UNC back into the top-10 conversation nationally.
Seth Trimble returns as clear leader for UNC basketball
It’s rare to see a player stay at the same school for four years in the NIL and transfer portal era. Seth Trimble is set to return for a fourth year in Chapel Hill, giving UNC its clear leader entering a crucial season for Davis and the Tar Heels. UNC’s best perimeter defender and athlete, Trimble improved his scoring as a junior. He’ll need to take another step forward in that area and as a facilitator with three of UNC’s top players in the backcourt — RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau and Ian Jackson — no longer on the roster. Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans gives UNC another option as a lead guard, but Trimble’s return gives Hubert Davis a reliable option as a returner.
Tar Heels get bigger with Jarin Stevenson, Henri Veesaar
Alabama transfer Jarin Stevenson and Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar give UNC something it didn’t have last season: size. The 6-foot-11 Stevenson struggled with consistency as a member of the Crimson Tide, but a change of scenery and a return to his Chapel Hill home could be just what he needs to reach that five-star potential. Veesaar was the first portal player to commit to UNC, and there’s a good chance the 7-footer will be the Heels’ starting center. Hubert Davis wanted a bigger roster. This year, he’ll have it around Ven-Allen Lubin, who became UNC’s top post threat in the latter stages of last season.
Caleb Wilson headlines UNC’s 2025 recruiting class
Caleb Wilson, a five-star recruit and the No. 6 player in the 2025 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, headlines UNC’s three-player freshman class. A 6-foot-9 forward, Wilson has the build and athleticism to have an instant impact as a defender and rebounder for the Tar Heels. The offense looks to be more of a supportive skill, but Wilson is the clear alpha among UNC’s latest recruits. Derek Dixon and Isaiah Denis arrive at UNC as combo guards, but it’ll likely take time for both of those players to adjust at the college level.
What UNC basketball needs from transfer portal
The Tar Heels have been busy, particularly in adding frontcourt talent and depth. Mission accomplished in regard to improving the size on the roster. But adding another lead guard would be a wise decision for a team losing two of its three starters in the backcourt. UNC doesn’t want to trade a frontcourt issue in 2025 for a backcourt problem in 2026.
