A.J. Williams, once the crown jewel of the 2028 high school class, announced a shift that moves him into the 2027 cohort, unlocking eligibility for the 2028 NBA Draft.
A New Recruitment Landscape
The move follows his stellar performances at Eagle's Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Georgia, where he attracted interest from a dozen programs, including Duke, Auburn, BYU, UConn, Georgia, Illinois, Georgia Tech and Mississippi State, before narrowing his focus to Chapel Hill.
With Williams’ reclassification, the Tar Heels now spotlight Yann Kamagate as the premier prospect for the 2028 cycle; the French forward holds offers from Baylor, UCLA, Kansas, USC, Alabama and Washington, among others.
UNC’s 2026‑27 Roster
UNC’s incoming class will feature Malloy Smith, son of former NBA star Kenny Smith, and Maximo Adams, joining a group that also saw Kevin Thomas flip from LSU commitments, while Dylan Mingo, a former UNC pledge, opted for Baylor.
The class currently stands at four verbal commitments — Kamagate, Dylan Betts, Brady Pettigrew and Colton Hiller — setting the stage for a competitive season under first‑year head coach Michael Malone.
Coach Malone’s debut campaign could unlock further pledges from the 2027 pool, which boasts eleven players with offers, potentially reshaping the program’s trajectory in the coming years.