As soon as it was announced by North Carolina that Hubert Davis had been fired, worry arrived for Tar Heels fans about playmakers potentially entering the transfer portal. Not only that, but what about the members of the 2026 class who are Chapel Hill-bound later this year?
UNC's dream Hubert Davis replacement already tells Bubba Cunningham no thanks
Obviously, there's indeed a ton of concern about 5-star combo guard Dylan Mingo, as he committed to the Tar Heels thinking that he was going to be playing for Davis. While he's also got a great relationship with Marcus Paige, it sure feels like Mingo's status is a bit unknown at this time.
Per reporter Adam Zagoria's sources, it's 'too early to tell' on what might happen with Mingo now that Davis is no longer going to be running the show. If anything, this adds extra pressure for North Carolina to make a splash hire. If the Tar Heels don't, then could Mingo look to open up his recruitment?
It’s ‘too early to tell’ what Dylan Mingo will do with his recruitment after the coaching change, per source close to the family https://t.co/xocrCYNuV7
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 25, 2026
UNC must do everything possible to keep 5-star guard Dylan Mingo on board
A 6-5, 190-pounder from New York, Mingo committed to the Tar Heels over fellow finalists Baylor, Penn State and Washington. Should he decommit from UNC, you better believe that countless programs will rush in to try to turn his head.
Mingo of course is not the only 2026 stud that North Carolina needs to be in contact with ASAP. Fellow 5-star talent Maximo Adams signed with the Tar Heels, but due to the coaching change, he's free to look elsewhere if he pleases. Kenny Smith's son Malloy Smith is also UNC-bound, but he could have a change of heart too.
The sooner North Carolina can lock in a replacement, the more calm everyone is going to be. So, who will the administration end up targeting? Brad Stevens was considered a dream option, but he has reportedly already told North Carolina that he's not interested in the opening.
Other names that keep flying around include Dusty May, Todd Golden, Billy Donovan and others. Can you imagine if UNC pulls things off to bring Donovan to town? He's won multiple national titles and he knows how to develop players. We don't want to assume, but it'd be hard to imagine someone like Mingo wouldn't be jacked up about playing for him.
This is all fluid and there are a ton of moving parts. When UNC was able to land Mingo, it was downright electric news. Fast forward to present time and no one knows for sure if he'll be a stud in the ACC or not. If the Heels want to make sure that happens, they need to swing for the fences in terms of a Davis replacement.