The transfer portal for UNC basketball opened on April 6 for the women’s team and on April 7 for the men’s squad, marking the start of a busy period for roster reshaping. The timing gave coaches a narrow window to evaluate talent and plan for the next season.
A new era for UNC basketball
Among those who have decided to move on, sophomore guard Lanie Grant is headed to TCU after averaging 10.8 points and shooting 44 percent from the field last season, while first‑year guard Derek Dixon is set to join Louisville after posting 6.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game at UNC.
The incoming class brings a mix of experience and potential. Achol Akot, a 6‑foot‑1 junior forward from Oklahoma State, arrives after a season in which he posted 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, and Elina Aarnisalo, a transfer from UCLA, is expected to start and contribute 10.2 points and 2.9 assists per game. Also joining the team are senior guard Chloe Clardy from Stanford, veteran guard Sophie Burrows from Syracuse, first‑year transfer Gabby White from Virginia, and big man Cameron Fens from South Dakota, who earned All‑Summit League honors with 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds last year.
Neoklis Avdalas, who transferred from Virginia Tech, adds 12.1 points, 4.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game, while Kate Harpring, the top‑ranked recruit in the 2026 class, will be looking to make an immediate impact. The influx of talent is matched by the departure of players such as Taliyah Henderson, who saw limited minutes in her first year, and the team will need to integrate new chemistry as it prepares for the upcoming season.