Michael Malone was named head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the recent transfer portal window, a move that signals the program's intent to reshape its roster for the upcoming seasons.
The coaching staff answered that call by bringing in Terrence Brown, Matt Able and Neo Avdalas, a trio that the staff believes can inject the size, versatility and varied offensive approaches needed to revitalize the backcourt.
A new era for the Tar Heels
Brown and Avdalas posted sub-33 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 2025, highlighting a clear area for improvement, while Able, who saw limited minutes at North Carolina State last year, proved a reliable shooter when called upon.
Each member of the new backcourt can handle the ball, drive to the basket and operate off it, giving the Tar Heels the flexibility to switch assignments on the fly and keep opponents guessing.
The addition of this balanced, interchangeable unit addresses a long-standing weakness in the Tar Heels' lineup—a lack of a true point guard and chronic shooting inefficiency—that had capped the team's ceiling.
With the enhanced backcourt, the Tar Heels are positioned to be more competitive in 2026, though the roster changes are unlikely to propel them into national title contention.