New head coach Michael Malone revitalized the North Carolina Tar Heels' roster with elite transfers, positioning scoring sensation Terrence Brown as the offensive engine for a deep NCAA Tournament run.
The North Carolina Tar Heels could be a threat to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament next year.
No doubt, that's the expectation after the Tar Heels gave former NBA head coach Michael Malone a six-year, $50 million contract.
Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas is expected to be UNC's best addition from the transfer portal, and should make a big difference on defense. Six-foot-six guard Matt Able (who transferred from NC State) was brought in to give the Tar Heels a perimeter threat.
Jeff Borzello of ESPN ranked New Tar Heels guard Terrence Brown as the No. 43 best player from the transfer portal. He noted that Brown will be a huge offensive addition for UNC.
"Brown's scoring ability surprisingly translated from the NEC to the Big 12, as he averaged 19.9 points this past season for the Utes after posting 20.6 points in 2024-25 at Fairleigh Dickinson," Borzello wrote.
"He also contributed nearly four assists per game. Brown had two 30-point games this past season and averaged 23.5 points in two games against BYU."
Because of Brown's ability to score, Malone will be expected to run his offense through the former Utah standout.
"North Carolina desperately needed proven production on the perimeter, and Brown checks that box," Borzello wrote. "He's a capable distributor with high-major experience, so expect Michael Malone to lean on him."
Malone has been strategic about building his new team in Chapel Hill. During his introductory news conference, Malone said it was his goal to build a family atmosphere.
“That’s something we talked a lot about in the NBA, and I think even more important at the college landscape, because you’re talking about young men coming into a program and having that family atmosphere, and that’s something that you can talk about, but it’s really something that you have to feel and build every single day," he said, via USA Today.
Brown fits that goal for Malone. He'll be someone who North Carolina immediately trusts to get the offense rolling and facilitate, while Brown can spread defenses and Avdalas creates havoc on defense.