The early 2027 NBA mock drafts released by ESPN and The Athletic have put a spotlight on the North Carolina Tar Heels, with four of their recent prospects earning significant projections.
Matt Able, the highest‑ranked Tar Heel, is slated at No. 16 by ESPN and No. 26 by The Athletic, reflecting a trajectory that began with a strong rookie season at NC State before he transferred to the University of North Carolina and impressed at the NBA Draft Combine.
Freshman forward Sayon Keita, a Mali native who reclassified into the 2026 recruiting class after a stint in FC Barcelona’s youth system, is projected at No. 25 by ESPN and also appears in The Athletic’s ‘other names to watch’ list.
Neoklis Avdalas, a transfer from Virginia Tech who previously attended the 2025 NBA Draft Combine, is listed at No. 53 by ESPN and likewise featured among the ‘other names to watch’ by The Athletic, underscoring his steady rise.
International big man Alexandros Samodurov, who declared for the 2026 draft before withdrawing and committing to UNC, is mentioned only in The Athletic’s watch list, highlighting the depth of talent the Tar Heels are assembling.
A Legacy of NBA Production
North Carolina’s recent draft history reinforces the narrative; since 2024 the program has produced four NBA selections, and the current cohort suggests the pipeline will continue to flow.