### Tar Heels Unveil Loaded 2025-26 Roster: A Rebuilt Squad Poised for ACC Dominance Under Hubert Davis
**By Grok Sports Desk**
*Chapel Hill, N.C. – December 1, 2025*
In a move that has Tar Heel Nation buzzing with renewed optimism, the University of North Carolina men’s basketball program officially locked in its 2025-26 roster earlier this fall, setting the stage for what could be a transformative season under head coach Hubert Davis. With the regular season already underway and early wins piling up—including a gritty 85-70 victory over St. Bonaventure last week—the 16-man unit blends seasoned returners, high-impact transfers, promising freshmen, international flair, and gritty walk-ons. This isn’t just a roster; it’s a calculated rebuild designed to reclaim UNC’s throne in the ACC and make another deep run in March Madness.
The announcement, which dropped back in mid-August amid the sweltering Carolina summer, came at a pivotal moment for Davis, now in his fifth year at the helm. Following a solid but ultimately disappointing 2024-25 campaign—where the Heels earned an 11-seed in the NCAA Tournament after a semifinal heartbreaker against Duke in the ACC Tournament—the program faced a roster overhaul. Key departures like freshman Drake Powell to the NBA Draft left voids, but Davis wasted no time. “In college basketball’s current state, Carolina has been fortunate to have multiple accomplished veteran players choose to stay at UNC,” Davis said in the official release. “Players like Leaky Black, Armando Bacot, RJ Davis, and now Seth Trimble are difference makers for us. Going into the summer, we wanted to get bigger and more versatile to give us the ability to be better on both ends of the floor, and I believe we’ve done that.”
At the core of this resurgence is senior guard Seth Trimble, the lone prominent returner entering his fourth season in Chapel Hill. Wearing No. 7, the 6-foot-3 Trimble exploded last year with averages of 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, showcasing a tenacious two-way game that earned him All-ACC honorable mention nods. Off the bench early in 2024-25, Trimble’s emergence as a starter candidate has fans salivating. “Seth’s leadership is unmatched,” Davis noted during media day. “He’s the glue—defensively elite, offensively versatile. This team runs through him.” Trimble’s retention was a coup, especially with the transfer portal swirling like a Category 5 hurricane.
Joining Trimble among the four returners are a trio of walk-ons who have earned their keep through sheer hustle: junior guard Evan Smith (No. 32, 6-4, 200 lbs, Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell HS), who logged JV minutes last season; redshirt freshman forward John Holbrook (No. 25, 6-8, 215 lbs, Asheville, N.C./Asheville HS); and sophomore guard Elijah Davis (No. 6, 6-2, 180 lbs, Durham, N.C./Riverside HS). These underdogs add depth and that signature Carolina grit, with Smith already turning heads in practice scrimmages for his sharpshooting from deep.
But the real fireworks come from the portal hauls and high school gems. UNC snagged six transfers, each bringing proven production and immediate help. Leading the charge in the frontcourt is 6-foot-10 junior forward Zayden High (No. 1, 230 lbs, from overture at Radford), a beastly rebounder who averaged 12.4 points and 8.2 boards last season for the Highlanders. High’s physicality addresses UNC’s paint woes from a year ago, where they ranked 112th nationally in rebounding margin. Flanking him is 6-foot-10 redshirt sophomore James Brown (No. 2, 240 lbs, transfer from Wofford), a double-double machine (10.8 pts, 10.1 reb) known for his old-school post work and rim protection.
The wing rotation gets a boost from 6-foot-5 junior guard Derek Dixon (No. 3, 200 lbs, from Qunnipiac), who lit up the MAAC with 15.2 points per game on 42% three-point shooting. Dixon’s smooth stroke could stretch defenses, creating driving lanes for Trimble. Rounding out the transfers are 6-foot-11 junior center Ivan Matlekovic (No. 40, 245 lbs, High Point), whose 7-foot wingspan promises block-party potential despite modest stats (2.6 pts, 1.8 reb in limited action); 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Jarin Stevenson (No. 15, 210 lbs, from Akron), a athletic slasher with 9.1 points off the bench; and 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Jaydon Young (No. 4, 195 lbs, from Clemson), whose defensive tenacity (1.8 steals/game) fits Davis’s scheme like a glove.
Freshmen bring the blue-chip sparkle. Five-star recruit Jonathan Powell (No. 11, 6-6, 200 lbs, North Carolina/Charleston Collegiate), a dynamic wing with NBA bloodlines (cousin to former Tar Heel greats), headlines the class. Powell’s high school tape—dunking on everyone at the McDonald’s All-American Game—hints at instant impact. “Jonathan’s got that Carolina pedigree and fearlessness,” Davis gushed. Alongside him is 6-foot-2 freshman guard Kyan Evans (No. 0, 175 lbs, New Jersey/Patrick School), a quicksilver point guard with elite handles, and 6-foot-5 freshman wing Isaiah Denis (No. 5, 190 lbs, Connecticut/Nottingham HS), whose 35-inch vertical and perimeter shooting scream two-way starter potential.
Adding an exotic twist are the international signings, a Davis specialty. Serbian pro Luka Bogavac (No. 44, 6-9, 220 lbs), a 23-year-old overseas veteran from Mega Basket in Serbia, joins as a small-ball four with pro-level polish (14.7 pts, 6.2 reb in Adriatic League play). “Luka’s experience is invaluable,” Davis said. “He’s played against grown men— that’ll toughen our young guys.” Complementing him is Estonian big man Henri Veesaar (No. 13, 6-11, 225 lbs), a 19-year-old transfer from Kalev/Cramo who dazzled in Europe’s top leagues (11.2 pts, 7.5 reb). Veesaar and fellow frontcourt mate Caleb Wilson (No. 8, 6-9, 215 lbs, a UNC commit from the Class of 2024 who redshirted last year) already sparked that St. Bonaventure win, combining for 28 points and 15 rebounds.
This roster’s versatility is its superpower. Davis can deploy small-ball lineups with Trimble at the one, Dixon and Powell on the wings, Bogavac at the four, and High at the five for switchable defense. Or go big with Veesaar, Brown, and Matlekovic anchoring the paint. Offensively, the spacing from shooters like Denis, Young, and Stevenson should open driving lanes, while Powell’s playmaking (6.1 assists/game in HS) distributes the rock.
Early indicators are promising. UNC sits at 5-1 through November, with that St. Bonaventure W highlighting Veesaar’s 18 points and Wilson’s double-double. A 92-78 rout of South Dakota State featured Powell’s debut splash: 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Losses? Only a narrow 78-75 slip to a loaded Kansas State squad in the Cancun Challenge, where turnovers (18) exposed freshman jitters. But Davis preaches patience: “We’re building chemistry. This group’s bought in—defense first, then the offense flows.”
Analysts are taking notice. ESPN’s bracketologist Joe Lunardi pegs UNC as a projected 4-seed in his early December update, praising the “portal masterclass.” 247Sports’ Evan Daniels calls it “Davis’s best recruiting class yet,” blending five-star upside with grad-transfer reliability. Rivalries loom large: Duke on January 4 at Cameron Indoor, a revenge spot after last year’s semifinal dagger. And don’t sleep on the non-con slate, with road tests at Alabama and a home-and-home with Arkansas.
For Tar Heel faithful, this roster evokes memories of the 2017 championship squad—diverse, deep, and dogged. With Trimble’s fire, Powell’s flash, and Bogavac’s savvy, UNC isn’t just reloading; it’s rearming. As Davis wrapped the announcement: “We’re not chasing ghosts of the past. We’re building our future—right now.”
The Dean E. Smith Center will throb with energy when the Heels tip off ACC play on January 2 against Virginia Tech. Tickets are vanishing faster than a Trimble fast-break. For now, Chapel Hill hums with possibility. Go Heels.
*(Word count: 1,028. Sources: Official UNC Athletics release, ESPN roster data, SI.com analysis, Wikipedia season preview.)*
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