Freshmen, Transfers and More: Every Newcomer Joining UNC Men’s Basketball for the 2026-27 Season
As Michael Malone embarks on his first season as the head coach of the UNC men’s basketball program, he’s gotten busy securing the additions of several newcomers to the program. Malone and his staff have mined from traditional high school recruiting and the transfer portal to fill out Carolina’s roster, and that work is continuing at the time of publication.
Below is every new face which will join the team for the 2026-27 season. The list will be updated as more players commit to the program.
Maximo Adams – Forward – True Freshman
Image via UNC Athletic Communications
Adams is a four-star recruit rated as the No. 21 player in the class of 2026 by ESPN. He originally committed to and signed with UNC in November. A 6-foot-7 forward who attended the powerhouse Sierra Canyon School in California, Adams made a name for himself in the summer of 2025 playing in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, averaging more than 20 points and 11 rebounds per game. Adam Finkelstein, director of scouting for 247 Sports, describes Adams as “a true mismatch problem who can play multiple positions and score at different levels.”
Malloy Smith – Guard – True Freshman
Image via UNC Athletic Communications
Smith arrives at UNC with strong family connections: his father, Kenny, was an All-American point guard in the 1980s for head coach Dean Smith. In addition, Malloy’s brother K.J. Smith played for head coach Roy Williams from 2016 to 2021. Like his classmate Adams, Smith arrives in Chapel Hill from California. Smith also attended a classic athletic powerhouse: Mater Dei High School, where he averaged 8.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game as a senior.
Neoklis Avdalas – Guard – Transfer (Virginia Tech)
Image via Virginia Tech Athletics
A truly unique player, Neoklis Avdalas’ profile at Virginia Tech listed him as a guard, despite his 6-foot-9 stature. Avdalas arrived in Blacksburg to much fanfare and put the college basketball world on notice quickly, scoring 33 points to go along with five rebounds and six assists in an overtime win against Providence in November. He wouldn’t quite live up to that level of productivity across the rest of his season, but still posted respectable averages of 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game (the assists number ranked eighth in the ACC). Avdalas has also played professionally in his native Greece. Avdalas is a rising sophomore.
Terrence Brown – Guard – Transfer (Utah)
Image via Utah Athletics
One of the most productive scorers in the transfer portal, Terrence Brown averaged better than 20 points per game as a sophomore at Fairleigh Dickinson in the Northeast Conference two seasons ago. In 2025-26, he replicated that with another outstanding statistical campaign at Utah, averaging 19.9 points and 3.8 assists per game in the rugged Big 12. Outside shooting has never been Brown’s strength, but he has improved his three-point percentage in every collegiate season. A ball-dominant scorer nonetheless, Brown’s 15.4 shot attempts per game last season were most among his Utah teammates — and comfortably beat Caleb Wilson’s team-high 12.3 shots per game for UNC in the same season. Brown is a rising senior.
Matt Able – Guard – Transfer (NC State)
Image via NC State Athletics
Matt Able made the rare decision to go directly from NC State to UNC, a move which had not been made since World War II. A former four-star recruit from Baltimore, Able did not start a game for the Wolfpack during his freshman season but was still productive, averaging 8.8 points and shooting 35.5 percent on three-pointers in 21.8 minutes per game off the bench. His best game, ironically enough, came against UNC, when Able scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds in 31 minutes. Able is a rising sophomore.
Maxim Logue – Center – Transfer (Florida Atlantic)
Image via FAU Athletics
Originally from France, Maxim Logue spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Oregon State and Florida Atlantic. He appeared in 21 games as a freshman with the Beavers and was modestly productive, ending his season with a double-double against UCF in the College Basketball Crown event. With FAU the next year, Logue appeared in 28 games and averaged 4.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He has also represented France internationally, including at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championships.
Cade Bennerman – Center – Transfer (Northwestern)
Image via Northwestern Athletics
Cade Bennerman came to Northwestern ahead of the 2025-26 season after a standout high school career in Nashville, TN. 247 Sports ranked Bennerman as the No. 1 player in the state of Tennessee in the 2025 class after Bennerman led Father Ryan High School to its best season since 2009. He was named to the Tennessee All-State team and a nominee for the state’s Mr. Basketball Award. Bennerman redshirted his true freshman season at Northwestern and did not play in a regular-season game. He has four years of eligibility remaining.
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As Michael Malone embarks on his first season as the head coach of the UNC men’s basketball program, he’s gotten busy securing the additions of several newcomers to the program. Malone and his staff have mined from traditional high school recruiting and the transfer portal to fill out Carolina’s roster, and that work is continuing […]
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