THT Newsletter: UNC Basketball Reloads, 5-Star Visits on the Horizon, and Football’s Big Moves
It’s been a busy stretch in Chapel Hill as both basketball and football programs continue to make waves on and off the court. From the release of the official 2025-26 basketball roster to major recruiting visits and even fresh updates from the football field, the Tar Heel faithful have plenty to be excited about.
🏀 Basketball Roster Notes: Bigger, Stronger, and Deeper
The new 2025-26 UNC men’s basketball roster is officially out, and one thing is crystal clear this team is going to look a whole lot bigger than last season’s squad.
- Forward James Brown has bulked up in a big way, adding 25 pounds of muscle to jump from 215 to 240.
- Freshman phenom Caleb Wilson enters listed at 6-10, 215 pounds, the same frame Brown had when he first arrived in Chapel Hill.
- Most importantly, UNC now has six players standing 6-10 or taller in the rotation, compared to just two a year ago. That kind of size and length should be a game-changer on the glass and in rim protection.
With head coach Hubert Davis emphasizing rebounding and physicality as keys to taking the next step, the new-look roster seems tailor-made to compete at the highest level.
Where Are They Now?
The Carolina family stretches worldwide, and a few familiar names are still making their mark:
- Makhtar N’Diaye, once the first Senegalese player in the NBA, is now serving as an NBA Ambassador to his native country. His journey from Chapel Hill to global impact remains one of the program’s most inspiring stories.
- Former Tar Heel transfer Christian Keeling continues to thrive overseas. After bouncing through leagues in Scotland, Georgia, Denmark, North Macedonia, Sweden, and Bulgaria, he’s now signed to play in Helsinki, Finland with the Helsinki Seagulls.
Recruiting Heats Up
UNC recruiting is in overdrive, with a star-studded list of official visits lined up for the coming months.
- Cameron Williams, a 5-star power forward ranked No. 11 in the 2026 class, has set his official visit for Nov. 7.
- Before then, fans won’t have to wait long for fireworks — Anthony Thompson, a 5-star wing, will be in Chapel Hill this weekend.
- The calendar is stacked: Sayon Keita (Aug. 1), Deron Rippey Jr. and Toni Bryant (Aug. 31), Tajh Ariza (Sept. 12), Cameron Holmes (Sept. 19), and many more top prospects are all headed to campus.
Simply put, recruiting momentum is sky-high in Chapel Hill.
🏈 Football Updates: A New Era Under Belichick
On the football side, the excitement is just as high. Defensive coordinator Steve Belichick officially signed his two-year, $2.7 million deal earlier this month. Despite speculation, there is no head-coach-in-waiting clause in the contract but his leadership is already being felt.
Belichick’s hands-on approach has drawn comparisons to his father, Bill, whose legendary attention to detail was on full display in a recent mic’d-up clip. Fans are eager to see how that intensity translates on the field this fall.
Meanwhile, the program continues to evolve off the field too. With premium seating already sold out in the Blue Zone and Touchdown Club, UNC has announced a Kenan Skybox Premium Area opening in 2025 — another sign of football’s growing demand in Chapel Hill.
🏈 Tar Heels in the Pros
It was a Tar Heel reunion in the NFL preseason as former UNC quarterbacks Drake Maye and Sam Howell squared off. Receiver Tez Walker stole headlines with a breakout game for the Ravens, catching six passes for 61 yards. Other UNC alumni like Jahvaree Ritzie, Ty Chandler, Kaimon Rucker, and Omarion Hampton also saw preseason action, reminding fans that the Carolina pipeline is alive and well.
The Bottom Line
From basketball’s influx of size and elite recruits to football’s culture shift under Steve Belichick, it’s clear: UNC athletics is entering a bold new chapter. For Tar Heel fans, the next few months are going to be full of headlines and the future looks every bit as exciting as the tradition they’re built on.
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