North Carolina’s men’s basketball program finds itself at a crossroads as the offseason reshapes its frontcourt. With only one scholarship slot left on the roster, head coach Michael Malone is turning his attention to two freshly eligible big men — Micah Handlogten and Cameron Fens — who have become the focal point of the Tar Heels’ recruitment drive.
Handlogten, a 6‑foot‑10 center who transferred from Marshall to Florida before landing at South Dakota State, brings a blend of size and rebounding grit. In his most recent season he appeared in 34 games, posting 4.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per outing. The Colorado native’s eligibility was secured after a federal judge granted a fifth‑year waiver to 2022 high‑school graduates, a ruling that has opened the door for several prospects to extend their collegiate careers.
Fens, meanwhile, arrives after a stint at Illinois‑Chicago and a productive year at South Dakota State where he averaged 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds over 32 appearances. His skill set has drawn interest from a handful of programs, but UNC’s pitch is positioned uniquely given his proximity to the Charlotte metropolitan area and the familiar landscape of Lake Norman.
A Legal Turning Point
Coach Malone, who has already bolstered the backcourt by adding Utah guard Terrence Brown, acknowledges that the frontcourt remains a work in progress. The departure of Henri Veesaar to the NBA left a void that the Tar Heels hope to fill with the size and experience of Handlogten and Fens, both of whom are still seeking a professional contract after limited Summer League exposure with the Utah Jazz.
The strategic move reflects a broader shift in college basketball’s eligibility landscape. A lawsuit led by Colorado forward Brock Wisne and former UNC guard Cade Tyson challenged the NCAA’s 5‑for‑5 rule, which replaced traditional redshirt and hardship waivers with a strict five‑year clock. Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado issued a preliminary injunction, stating that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits and would suffer irreparable harm without relief.
NCAA President Charlie Baker has publicly criticized the decision, urging Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan proposal that would standardize name, image and likeness rules, transfer regulations, and other key aspects of collegiate athletics. The ruling not only reinstates eligibility for Handlogten and Fens but also signals a potential re‑evaluation of how the governing body approaches player eligibility in the years ahead.