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UNC Basketball: Oklahoma City Signs Tar Heel Talent

UNC basketball's Cormac Ryan is joining the Thunder via an Exhibit 10 deal.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and guard Cormac Ryan
UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and guard Cormac Ryan / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
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It's highly unlikely Cormac Ryan will be on an NBA roster next season. Nevertheless, the one-year UNC basketball wing, now 25 years old following his six-year college stay between Stanford, Notre Dame, and the Tar Heels, will get a chance to impress one franchise this summer.

On Friday, the Oklahoma City Thunder signed the 6-foot-5, 195-pound Ryan to an Exhibit 10 contract, which secures his services for the Salt Lake City Summer League, July 8-10, and NBA 2K25 Summer League action in Las Vegas, July 12-22.

One of the Thunder's opponents in Salt Lake City is the Utah Jazz, who recently signed Ryan's UNC basketball teammate, center Armando Bacot, to an Exhibit 10 deal. Presumably, Ryan and Bacot will at some point be on the floor together in that outing, only this time on opposing sides.

If Ryan fares well in July, he stands a good shot at landing with the Thunder's G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, to jumpstart his pro career.

As a full-time starter for Hubert Davis' third batch of Tar Heels last season, Cormac Ryan averaged 11.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest while shooting 35.4 percent from three and 87.4 percent at the charity stripe.

His sweetest performance as a beloved Tar Heel came in the team's road win over archival Duke in early March, as Ryan tallied 31 points while knocking down six 3-pointers on only eight attempts.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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