2025–26 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team

American college basketball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by coach Hubert Davis in his fifth and final season as UNC's head coach, and was assisted by Jeff Lebo, Sean May, and Brad Frederick. The Tar Heels played their home games at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Record24–9 (12–6 ACC)
Headcoach
Assistant coaches
Quick facts North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball, NCAA tournament, First round ...
2025–26 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
NCAA tournament, First round
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Record24–9 (12–6 ACC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaDean E. Smith Center
Seasons
← 2024–25
2026–27 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2025–26 ACC men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 4 Duke †17–1 .94435–3  .921
No. 17 Virginia15–3 .83330–6  .833
No. 24 Miami (FL)13–5 .72226–9  .743
North Carolina12–6 .66724–9  .727
Clemson12–6 .66724–11  .686
No. 23 Louisville11–7 .61124–11  .686
NC State10–8 .55620–14  .588
Florida State10–8 .55618–15  .545
California9–9 .50022–12  .647
Stanford9–9 .50020–13  .606
SMU8–10 .44420–14  .588
Virginia Tech8–10 .44419–13  .594
Wake Forest7–11 .38918–17  .514
Syracuse6–12 .33315–17  .469
Pittsburgh5–13 .27813–20  .394
Notre Dame4–14 .22213–18  .419
Boston College4–14 .22211–20  .355
Georgia Tech2–16 .11111–20  .355
† 2026 ACC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
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Previous season

Main article: 2024–25 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team

The Tar Heels finished the 2024–25 season with a 23–14 overall record, with a 13–7 mark in the ACC, tying for 4th in the league. The team faced many ups and downs, starting with a tough non-conference schedule facing teams like Kansas, Auburn, Michigan State, Alabama, and Florida. The Heels showed flashes when rallying from a 21‑point second‑half deficit to defeat Dayton in the Maui Invitational,[1] and overcame a 16-point hole vs. UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic.[2]

As the No. 5 seed in the ACC Tournament, they defeated Notre Dame in the second round, Wake Forest in the quarterfinals, and fell short in a comeback bid against Duke in the semifinals. UNC earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as an 11 seed in the South Region, starting their tournament in Dayton at the First Four. They routed San Diego State 95–68 to advance to the round of 64, but their run ended there with a 71–64 loss to Ole Miss.

Offseason

The Tar Heels lost virtually their entire core, including all five starters from the 2024–25 season. Among the most notable departures were veteran guard RJ Davis and forward Jae'Lyn Withers, both of whom graduated. Numerous players entered the transfer portal, including Elliot Cadeau, Ian Jackson, Jalen Washington, and Ven-Allen Lubin. Freshman Drake Powell decided to enter the 2025 NBA Draft. The only main rotation player that announced he would be returning was guard Seth Trimble.

UNC aggressively rebuilt its roster through the transfer portal, international signings, and high school recruits. The additions were led by several transfers, including 7-footer Henri Veesaar from Arizona, forward Jarin Stevenson from Alabama, and guard Kyan Evans from Colorado State. They also brought in wing shooter Jonathan Powell from West Virginia, and international guard Luka Bogavac from Montenegro. They also added incoming freshmen, most notably five-star forward Caleb Wilson, along with guards Derek Dixon and Isiah Denis.

Departures

More information Name, Number ...
North Carolina Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for Departure
R.J. Davis4G6'0"180Graduate StudentWhite Plains, New YorkGraduated
Jae'Lyn Withers24F6'9"220Graduate StudentCharlotte, North CarolinaGraduated
Cade Tyson5G/F6'7"200JuniorMonroe, North CarolinaTransferred to Minnesota[3]
Jalen Washington13F6'10"235JuniorGary, IndianaTransferred to Vanderbilt[4]
Ven-Allen Lubin22F6'8"230JuniorOrlando, FloridaTransferred to NC State[5]
Elliot Cadeau3G6'1"180SophomoreWest Orange, New JerseyTransferred to Michigan[6]
Drake Powell9G/F6'6"195FreshmanPittsboro, North CarolinaDeclared for the 2025 NBA draft, selected 22nd overall by the Atlanta Hawks, traded to the Brooklyn Nets[7]
Ian Jackson11G6'4"190FreshmanThe Bronx, New YorkTransferred to St. John's[8]
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Additions

Incoming transfers

More information Name, Number ...
incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School
Kyan Evans0G6'2"175JuniorKansas City, MissouriColorado State[9]
Luka Bogavac44G6'6"215Junior Mojkovac, MontenegroSC Derby[10]
Henri Veesaar13C7'0"225JuniorTallinn, EstoniaArizona[11]
Jarin Stevenson15F6'10"215JuniorChapel Hill, North CarolinaAlabama[12]
Jaydon Young4G6'4"200JuniorGoldsboro, North CarolinaVirginia Tech[13]
Jonathan Powell11G6'6"190SophomoreCenterville, OhioWest Virginia[14]
Ivan Matlekovic40C7'0"255SophomoreSisak, CroatiaHigh Point[15]
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Recruiting class

More information Name, Hometown ...
College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Caleb Wilson
F		 Atlanta, Georgia Holy Innocents' Episcopal School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jan 24, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 5/5 stars   247Sports: 5/5 stars   ESPN: 5/5 stars   (96)
Derek Dixon
G		 Vienna, Virginia Gonzaga College High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sep 27, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (85)
Isaiah Denis
G		 Charlotte, North Carolina Davidson Day School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Nov 2, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (85)
Overall recruit ranking:    247Sports: 7
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "North Carolina 2025 Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  • "2025 North Carolina Tar Heels Recruiting Class". ESPN. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  • "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2025–26 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Kyan Evans 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) JrStaley / Colorado State St. Louis, MO
F 1 Zayden High 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)230 lb (104 kg) SoAZ Compass Prep San Antonio, TX
F 2 James Brown 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg) SoLink Academy Aurora, IL
G 3 Derek Dixon 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg) FrGonzaga College HS Vienna, VA
G 4 Jaydon Young 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)200 lb (91 kg) JrGreensboro Day / Virginia Tech Greensboro, NC
G 5 Isaiah Denis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrDavidson Day Charlotte, NC
G 6 Elijah Davis (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)205 lb (93 kg) SrLynchburg Chapel Hill, NC
G 7 Seth Trimble 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg) SrMenomonee Falls Menomonee Falls, WI
F 8 Caleb Wilson Injured 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)215 lb (98 kg) Fr Holy Innocents Episcopal School Atlanta, GA
G 11 Jonathan Powell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)190 lb (86 kg) SoCenterville / West Virginia Centerville, OH
C 13 Henri Veesaar 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)225 lb (102 kg) JrReal Madrid / Arizona Tallinn, Estonia
F 15 Jarin Stevenson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)215 lb (98 kg) JrSeaforth / Alabama Chapel Hill, NC
F 25 John Holbrook (W) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)230 lb (104 kg) SoHickory Hickory, NC
G 32 Evan Smith Jr. (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)195 lb (88 kg) JrArdrey Kell Charlotte, NC
C 40 Ivan Matleković 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)255 lb (116 kg) SoHAKK Mladost / High Point Sisak, Croatia
G 44 Luka Bogavac 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg) JrSC Derby Mojkovac, Montenegro
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: October 15, 2025

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Schedule and results

More information Date time, TV, Rank# ...
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 24, 2025*
9:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 25 vs. No. 8 BYU
The Bad Boy Mowers Series - Salt Lake City		 L 76–78  –
  22 – Wilson  10 – Wilson  5 – Evans  Delta Center (9,030)
Salt Lake City, UT
October 29, 2025*
7:30 p.m., ACCNX		 No. 25 Winston-Salem State W 95–53  –
  23 – Wilson  10 – Wilson  3 – High  Dean Smith Center (15,332)
Chapel Hill, NC
Non-conference regular season
November 3, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 25 Central Arkansas W 94–54  1–0
  22 – Wilson  10 – Veesaar  5 – Tied  Dean Smith Center (16,079)
Chapel Hill, NC
November 7, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 25 No. 19 Kansas W 87–74  2–0
  24 – Wilson  8 – Trimble  4 – Tied  Dean Smith Center (21,750)
Chapel Hill, NC
November 11, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 18 Radford W 89–74  3–0
  19 – Bogavac  14 – Wilson  5 – Tied  Dean Smith Center (16,613)
Chapel Hill, NC
November 14, 2025*
9:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 18 North Carolina Central W 97–53  4–0
  21 – Wilson  13 – Wilson  7 – Evans  Dean Smith Center (17,522)
Chapel Hill, NC
November 18, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 18 Navy W 73–61  5–0
  23 – Wilson  12 – Wilson  6 – Evans  Dean Smith Center (16,869)
Chapel Hill, NC
November 25, 2025*
6:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 16 vs. St. Bonaventure
Fort Myers Tip-Off Beach Division		 W 85–70  6–0
  24 – Veesaar  13 – Veesaar  4 – Bogavac  Suncoast Credit Union Arena (3,500)
Fort Myers, FL
November 27, 2025*
4:30 p.m., FOX		 No. 16 vs. No. 11 Michigan State
Fort Myers Tip-Off Beach Division		 L 58–74  6–1
  18 – Wilson  7 – Tied  5 – Bogavac  Suncoast Credit Union Arena (3,500)
Fort Myers, FL
December 2, 2025*
9:30 p.m., ESPN		 No. 16 at No. 18 Kentucky
ACC–SEC Challenge / Rivalry		 W 67–64  7–1
  17 – Veesaar  12 – Wilson  6 – Wilson  Rupp Arena (20,029)
Lexington, KY
December 7, 2025*
5:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 16 Georgetown W 81–61  8–1
  20 – Wilson  15 – Veesaar  4 – Evans  Dean Smith Center (18,583)
Chapel Hill, NC
December 13, 2025*
2:00 p.m., The CW		 No. 14 USC Upstate W 80–62  9–1
  20 – Wilson  11 – Wilson  5 – Tied  Dean Smith Center (17,759)
Chapel Hill, NC
December 16, 2025*
8:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 12 East Tennessee State W 77–58  10–1
  26 – Veesaar  8 – Tied  6 – Evans  Dean Smith Center (16,548)
Chapel Hill, NC
December 20, 2025*
3:00 p.m., CBS		 No. 12 vs. Ohio State
CBS Sports Classic		 W 71–70  11–1
  20 – Wilson  15 – Wilson  5 – Veesaar  State Farm Arena (16,951)
Atlanta, GA
December 22, 2025*
8:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 12 East Carolina W 99–51  12–1
  21 – Wilson  12 – Wilson  5 – Trimble  Dean Smith Center (20,479)
Chapel Hill, NC
ACC Regular Season
December 30, 2025
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 12 Florida State W 79–66  13–1
(1–0)		  22 – Wilson  16 – Wilson  6 – Wilson  Dean Smith Center (20,618)
Chapel Hill, NC
January 3, 2026
2:15 p.m., The CW		 No. 12 at SMU L 83–97  13–2
(1–1)		  22 – Trimble  7 – Wilson  6 – Bogavac  Moody Coliseum (6,698)
University Park, TX
January 10, 2026
6:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 17 Wake Forest
Rivalry		 W 87–84  14–2
(2–1)		  25 – Veesaar  12 – Wilson  4 – Tied  Dean Smith Center (21,750)
Chapel Hill, NC
January 14, 2026
9:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 14 at Stanford L 90–95  14–3
(2–2)		  26 – Tied  9 – Wilson  2 – Tied  Maples Pavilion (5,369)
Stanford, CA
January 17, 2026
4:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 14 at California L 78–84  14–4
(2–3)		  17 – Wilson  10 – Veesaar  4 – Tied  Haas Pavilion (8,077)
Berkeley, CA
January 21, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 22 Notre Dame W 91–69  15–4
(3–3)		  22 – Wilson  12 – Veesaar  5 – Wilson  Dean Smith Center (19,686)
Chapel Hill, NC
January 24, 2026
12:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 22 at No. 14 Virginia W 85–80  16–4
(4–3)		  20 – Wilson  7 – Powell  7 – Dixon  John Paul Jones Arena (14,637)
Charlottesville, VA
January 31, 2026
2:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 16 at Georgia Tech W 91–75  17–4
(5–3)		  22 – Wilson  12 – Veesaar  5 – Wilson  McCamish Pavilion (8,700)
Atlanta, GA
February 2, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 14 Syracuse W 87–77  18–4
(6–3)		  22 – Wilson  11 – Veesaar  4 – Veesaar  Dean Smith Center (20,152)
Chapel Hill, NC
February 7, 2026
6:30 p.m., ESPN		 No. 14 No. 4 Duke
Rivalry/College GameDay		 W 71–68  19–4
(7–3)		  23 – Wilson  11 – Veesaar  4 – Dixon  Dean Smith Center (21,750)
Chapel Hill, NC
February 10, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 11 at Miami L 66–75  19–5
(7–4)		  13 – Stevenson  6 – Tied  4 – Tied  Watsco Center (7,355)
Coral Gables, FL
February 14, 2026
2:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 11 Pittsburgh W 79–65  20–5
(8–4)		  19 – Tied  7 – Tied  7 – Dixon  Dean Smith Center (21,750)
Chapel Hill, NC
February 17, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 16 at NC State
Rivalry		 L 58–82  20–6
(8–5)		  13 – Tied  10 – High  3 – Evans  Lenovo Center (19,367)
Raleigh, NC
February 21, 2026
1:00 p.m., ABC		 No. 16 at Syracuse W 77–64  21–6
(9–5)		  19 – Veesaar  11 – High  4 – Dixon  JMA Wireless Dome (23,606)
Syracuse, NY
February 23, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 18 No. 24 Louisville W 77–74  22–6
(10–5)		  30 – Trimble  7 – Stevenson  4 – Trimble  Dean Smith Center (20,577)
Chapel Hill, NC
February 28, 2026
8:30 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 18 Virginia Tech W 89–82  23–6
(11–5)		  26 – Veesaar  7 – Veesaar  4 – Trimble  Dean Smith Center (21,750)
Chapel Hill, NC
March 3, 2026
7:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 17 Clemson W 67–63  24–6
(12–5)		  20 – Bogavac  10 – Stevenson  4 – Veesaar  Dean Smith Center (20,753)
Chapel Hill, NC
March 7, 2026
6:30 p.m., ESPN		 No. 17 at No. 1 Duke
Rivalry/College GameDay		 L 61–76  24–7
(12–6)		  17 – Dixon  9 – Veesaar  6 – Trimble  Cameron Indoor Stadium (9,314)
Durham, NC
ACC tournament
March 12, 2026
9:30 p.m., ESPN		 (4) No. 19 vs. (5) Clemson
Quarterfinal		 L 79–80  24–8
  28 – Veesaar  17 – Veesaar  8 – Trimble  Spectrum Center (17,627)
Charlotte, NC
NCAA tournament
March 19, 2026
3:10 p.m., truTV		 (6 S) No. 21 vs. (11 S) VCU
First round		 L 78–82 OT 24–9
  26 – Veesaar  10 – Veesaar  6 – Tied  Bon Secours Wellness Arena (14,092)
Greenville, SC
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
S=South.
All times are in Eastern Time.
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[16]

Rankings

See also: 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP2518181616141212121714221614111618171921RV
Coaches2520191717151312121715241818132019181921RV
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References

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