All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Transfer Madness: Important Deadline Approaching

Remaining UNC basketball roster moves seem to depend on two portal targets' NBA decisions.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball transfer target Ugonna Onyenso
UNC basketball transfer target Ugonna Onyenso / Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
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Based on reports and chatter the past few weeks, it's safe to say the UNC basketball staff hopes to add one or both of former four-year Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins and two-year Kentucky big man Ugonna Onyenso to all but complete 2024-25 roster construction in Chapel Hill.

RELATED: Top Transfer Target Notes Carolina Blue 'Makes His Eyes Pop'

The issue is, though, that Hawkins, an All-Big Ten Third Team selection this past season, and Onyenso, who finished third in the SEC with his 66 blocks as a sophomore in Lexington, remain early NBA Draft entrants. So, despite neither being a projected first-rounder and some mock drafts not even listing one of them in either round, there's no guarantee Hawkins or Onyenso will be in college next season.

They have until the NCAA-imposed May 29 deadline to withdraw their names from the NBA Draft and retain their eligibility. That's next Wednesday, only eight days away.

It's been a rocky road for Hubert Davis and his crew in trying to land transfer frontcourt talent with sights on replacing last year's formidable starters in Harrison Ingram and Armando Bacot. There have been a handful of misses and dampened interests the past six weeks.

UNC basketball's only addition via this year's transfer portal is former two-year sharpshooting Belmont wing Cade Tyson, who arrived on campus for workouts and summer school last week.

For now, only 10 scholarship players are on tap for Davis' fourth season at the helm, consisting of Tyson, six returning Tar Heels, and three incoming freshmen.

Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI for more UNC basketball news.

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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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