The 2026 NBA Draft just wrapped up with the North Carolina Tar Heels having a pair of players get their names called between Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar. Now, eyes already look toward who could have the same destiny in 2027 as the Michael Malone era in Chapel Hill is a full-go.
Wilson went in the blink of an eye at No. 4 to the Chicago Bulls, becoming UNC's highest draft pick since Marvin Williams at No. 2 in 2005. Veesaar, though, had to wait until the second round before the Atlanta Hawks finally took him with the 52nd overall pick.
Looking a year in advance, it looks like Malone could also produce multiple draft picks in Year 1 with three players already popping up on 2027 NBA Draft prospects lists. And Malone obviously knows how to develop players into NBA talent after coaching at the level for 25 years.
With the lottery expanding to 16 spots in 2027 under the new rules, Matt Able, entering his sophomore campaign, is right on the line of being a lottery pick as ESPN's Jeremy Woo's No. 16 prospect for the 2027 NBA Draft right now. But now wearing Carolina blue and playing for a guy like Malone, Able's stock should rise before draft day to give the Tar Heels yet another lottery pick.
Able, listed at 6-foot-6, put up 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and shot 35.5% from beyond the arc last season while coming off the bench for NC State. Although his numbers weren't eye-popping, Ables caught the attention of NBA scouts mostly because of what he can do on the defensive end with his 3-point shooting as a future 3-and-D player.
Neoklis Avdalas has the most impressing to do this season to assure his name actually gets called in 2027, but he'll definitely catch the eyes of scouts as a 6-foot-9 guard that can play multiple spots on the court because of his size and ability with it. Basically a year in advance, Woo has Avdalas at No. 53 in his top-60 2027 NBA Draft prospects. That gives Avdalas little room to slip.
Just like NBA scouts, UNC fans will also see this season what Avdalas is capable of after transferring from Virginia Tech, where he averaged 12.1 points and 3.1 rebounds while tallying 17 blocks as a freshman. He's also not afraid to shoot and hit 31.4% on 3-pointer with 156 attempts last season. That makes him extremely lethal option as a 6-foot-9 stretch forward.
Sayon Keita could be the Tar Heels' next one-and-done star after committing to UNC out of Spain. He hasn't even played a game in college yet, but the five-star recruit is already a projected first-round pick. Keita is listed at a towering 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan and a standing reach at over 9-foot-4. Even with that size and length, Keita is still light on his feet and can move quickly. He's barely 18 years old, so Keita could be one of the biggest risers when we look back at this list after he shows what he can do under Malone's tutelage.
If he and Able both stay true to early predictions, Malone could produce more draft picks in just the first round in 2027 than the Tar Heels had both rounds this year.
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