Michael Malone Says Sayon Keita, Alexandros Samodurov Fully Cleared for UNC

For much of the summer, two of the biggest questions surrounding Michael Malone’s first North Carolina roster had nothing to do with talent.

Would Sayon Keita make it to Chapel Hill and receive the necessary clearance to play? And would fellow international addition Alexandros Samodurov be eligible after spending his previous basketball career in Europe?

On Wednesday, Malone provided the answer Tar Heel fans had been waiting to hear: everything is a go.

Malone was in Greensboro for the official announcement of North Carolina and NC State’s new two-year agreement to meet in a non-conference game, beginning Dec. 15 at the First Horizon Coliseum. While discussing his first UNC team, Malone was asked about Keita and Samodurov and offered an important update.

“As far as I am aware, they’re both cleared, they’re in class, they’re in workouts, and I think everything is a go,” Malone said. A UNC program spokesperson subsequently confirmed that both players are fully cleared and participating in all team activities, per Andrew Jones' reporting on TarHeel247.

That is significant news for a Carolina frontcourt that carried considerable uncertainty throughout the offseason.

Keita’s situation had been particularly visible. The 7-foot center from Mali committed to North Carolina on April 28 after developing in FC Barcelona’s system, but visa issues kept him overseas for much of the summer. He finally received his student visa and traveled to Chapel Hill shortly before classes began.

Even after Keita reached the United States, however, there remained the separate matter of NCAA clearance. Malone’s comments now remove that concern.

Samodurov presented a different situation. The 6-foot-11 Greek forward committed to UNC on May 30 after withdrawing from the NBA Draft and spending his professional career with Panathinaikos. Because of that professional background, his transition to college basketball naturally came with eligibility questions.

Those questions can now be put aside as well.

Samodurov will be classified as a junior at North Carolina but, according to the program, will have three seasons of eligibility remaining (thanks 5-in-5!), again according to Jones' reporting. 

His résumé makes him one of the more intriguing pieces on Malone’s roster. Samodurov has competed in both the Greek League and EuroLeague and starred internationally for Greece at the 2025 FIBA U20 EuroBasket, averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game while earning all-tournament recognition.

Keita offers a much different profile. At 7 feet tall, he gives Carolina length, rim protection and considerable developmental upside. His combination of size and mobility has made him one of the most intriguing young big men on the roster.

More importantly, Malone can finally begin building his frontcourt knowing both international additions are available.

That becomes even more encouraging when combined with the recent Cameron Fens development. A Tennessee court denied the NCAA’s request to stay a temporary injunction protecting Fens’ fifth year of eligibility, keeping the South Dakota transfer on track to play for Carolina as the larger court case continues.

Suddenly, an area of the roster that generated legitimate concern earlier this summer looks considerably deeper.

Malone can work with the experienced Fens, the versatile Samodurov, the high-upside Keita and returning forward Jarin Stevenson, among other options. And instead of constructing contingency plans around visas or eligibility rulings, the Tar Heels can turn their attention toward a much more enjoyable problem: determining how all those pieces fit together.

Wednesday’s event in Greensboro was designed to celebrate the renewal of the Carolina-NC State rivalry through a pair of non-conference games.

For UNC, though, Malone slipped in another announcement every bit as important for the season ahead.

His international big men are here.

And, most importantly, they are cleared to play.