Michael Malone Gets Honest About UNC's Transfer Portal Additions

The North Carolina Tar Heels made a major move this offseason, as they hired Michael Malone as their head coach. Malone comes to the Tar Heels after a successful coaching career in the NFL, where he posted a 471-327 record and a championship in the 2022-23 season.

With Malone taking over the program, North Carolina has brought in a ton of talent and could be a contender to win the NCAA Tournament in the 2026-27 season.

"When that portal opened the day I got the job, it seems like five months ago, we addressed the backcourt," Malone said about the transfer portal additions. "We added Terrence Brown, we added Matt Able, we added Neo Avdalas, and I think those three guys combine for one of the more dynamic and exciting backcourts in all of college basketball."

The Tar Heels have landed quality pieces via the transfer portal to bolster the backcourt ahead of Malone's first season as head coach.

Brown is coming off a strong season at Utah, as he averaged 19.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three.

Able could be another solid guard for NC State, as he averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game in his freshman year at NC State, shooting 41.6 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from deep. 

Avdalas was the other player Malone and the Tar Heels added, as he averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from distance. If he can be more efficient, he can be a true leader on offense for the team.

"Neo is a guy who was such an important get because, to me, his positional size, but also his vision, his playmaking, are what separate Neo Avdalas from a lot of other players," Malone said.

With the additions North Carolina has made in the transfer portal, they have a talented roster, giving them a chance to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament in Malone's first year leading the program.