The head coach has officially been secured, now it's time for Michael Malone and the Tar Heels to build next year's roster.
With the transfer portal officially open for business, Malone is wasting no time getting to work. If you watched his introductory press conference, he literally was ecstatic that the event was coming to a close, indicating that "we have work to do!"
He isn't kidding!
The good news is that there are thousands of entries already in the transfer portal, so Malone and his staff will have a lot to choose from. However, as the clock continues to tick, viable options will roll off the board quickly, meaning the Tar Heels must not only identify their top targets but also make a strong push to get them as soon as possible.
With this in mind, here are three dream targets that Malone should already be in contact with, starting with an in-state product who rose to stardom this past season.
An in-state product, Juke Harris would be the perfect guy to keep within the state borders.
The 6-foot-7 guard spent each of his first two collegiate seasons at Wake Forest. After being mostly a role player during his true freshman season, Harris was a star for the Demon Deacons this past season, averaging 21.4 points per-game while shooting 44.2% from the field.
A bigger guard who can also play the wing, Harris would be a tremendous fit to what Michael Malone is trying to accomplish in Chapel Hill. While putting the ball in the basket has developed into his strong suit, a guard who rebounds at the level he does is also a very valuable skillset to have, as Malone mentioned in his press conference that the goal will be for the Tar Heels to be much better on the glass and on the defensive side of the ball moving forward.
Donnie Freeman is going to be highly sought-after in the transfer portal market, and rightly so.
Not many big men can do what he's capable of doing. Even though he's listed at 6-foot-9, Freeman plays much bigger than his height indicates, as he's coming off a season in which he averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
While Tar Heel fans would love for Caleb Wilson to change his mind and return to UNC for another season, it would be a stunning development for that to actually happen. Freeman would be an outstanding addition to the front court, one that could be absolutely lethal if Henri Veesaar elects to return for another season.
Given that he missed most of the 2025-2026 season due to injury, no one is really giving Markus Burton the attention he deserves.
One of the best pure scoring point guards that the country has to offer, Burton has showcased his ability to be an elite playmaker. While Notre Dame has struggled during his time there, imagine what Burton could do with a better roster around him?
Michael Malone would have an absolute field day running up plays for Burton within his offensive scheme!