We're closing in on the official start of the 2026-2027 college athletics calendar year, one that Tar Heel fans are hoping is full of success for every sport the University of North Carolina has to offer.
In today's modern world of college athletics, the transfer portal has made a distinct impact on roster building. Unlike in the past, it's very common to see teams build completely new rosters on a yearly basis, relying heavily on the portal to acquire some top-tier talent.
Of course, no one is forgetting the high school recruiting route, as it's just as possible to find elite talent that way!
Ahead of the new athletic year, there are quite a few newcomers to Chapel Hill that fans will have the opportunity to get to know and watch compete across various sporting events. With this in mind, here are five newcomers that Tar Heel fans should be very excited to watch during this upcoming school year.
Honestly, we could've made a list solely for the men's basketball team, given the complete overhaul the roster has gone through this offseason. While there are many newcomers who have fans excited, we decided to focus on Terrence Brown, a veteran guard who has quite the story of how he got to this point.
If you love an underdog story, Brown is your guy! He started his college basketball career at Fairleigh Dickinson University, taking a chance on himself at a mid-major program. He continued to show his worth, eventually transferring to Utah, where he was a 20 points per game scorer in the Big 12.
Now, he looks to wrap his college career off in style, bringing his talents to Chapel Hill. Based on his resume, Brown won't be intimidated by the bright lights at North Carolina, and should be a huge piece to the puzzle for Michael Malone's first team at UNC.
Trivia question! What school will the No. 1 ranked women's basketball high school prospect in the Class of 2026 be playing for this upcoming season?
If you guessed UNC, you are correct!
Kate Harpring is an incredible talent who earned her spot as the best high school basketball player in the country. With a bright future ahead, Harpring decided to team up with Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels, as she is a player who should have an immediate impact the minute she takes the floor for the UNC women's basketball program.
If you haven't seen her play yet, just wait. You will be AMAZED at what she can do on the court!
Jake Schaffner quickly won the hearts of UNC baseball fans, but he's off to the big leagues after just one season in Chapel Hill.
Insert Jamie Laskofski, the projected replacement for Schaffner at shortstop, a guy that Tar Heel fans are going to love just as much.
Laskofski is coming off a monster sophomore season, one that earned him CAA Player of the Year honors. The left-handed hitting shortstop hit .355 this season while leading William & Mary in essentially every major category: runs (65), hits (72), doubles (12), home runs (13), and RBI (45). His 36 stolen bases ranked 15th nationally, showing his ability to do damage in a variety of ways offensively.
Expect to hear a lot about Laskofski when the Diamond Heels begin their quest at another deep run in Omaha in February of 2027.
Summer Denigan is set to be a huge addition to the UNC women's soccer program.
Denigan is an incoming transfer from Georgia and is coming off a season in which she was a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and a United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team selection. She scored 11 goals and tallied 23 total points in 21 games played a season ago, as you already know the plan is for Denigan, a midfielder, to make a huge impact in her graduate year in her stomping grounds in Chapel Hill.
Could another double-digit goal season be in the cards for Denigan? Tar Heel fans sure hope so!
Now, you may not be impressed by his limited action at Texas as a redshirt freshman in 2025, as he recorded seven catches for 109 yards and a touchdown for the Longhorns before deciding to transfer to North Carolina.
However, if you're looking for a "breakout star," Washington might just be that guy for the UNC football program.
Bill Belichick loves his tight ends, and makes a habit out of making sure his offenses utilizes them heavily in the passing game. Washington is expected to factor into the offense this season, and with new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino in town, it's very possible that UNC has a plan mapped out to help Washington reach his full potential.
We're not saying he's going to lead the country in touchdowns, but this guy could very easily record 500+ receiving yards and 5+ touchdowns this season.
Bookmark this post to ensure you give us our props for identifying this breakout star over a month before the college football season begins.
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