With all the changes occurring in Chapel Hill, fans were anxious to know how the hiring of Michael Malone would impact the future of some notable Tar Heels from last year's roster.
One of those guys was Jarin Stevenson, who transferred to North Carolina from Alabama a year ago. The in-state product has been a player we haven't heard much about until Monday morning, when he confirmed what his plans for his senior year are.
Jarin Stevenson will return to North Carolina
North Carolina forward Jarin Stevenson will return to the Tar Heels next season, he told @On3.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) April 13, 2026
The 6-10 junior and Chapel Hill native averaged 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game this season. https://t.co/o8AMkHOnqN pic.twitter.com/1fG8GxeUU1
The day just keeps getting better for Michael Malone and the Tar Heels. First, Neoklis Avdalas committed to the program while Terrence Brown is on campus for his official visit. Now, Stevenson added to the great day by confirming to Joe Tipton of On3 that he will be returning to Chapel Hill for his final season of eligibility.
This is major news for the Tar Heels as they continue building next year's roster. Stevenson, a 6-foot-10 presence who does a little bit of everything, was a guy who UNC loved instantly, especially given that he was heavily recruited by the program during his initial recruitment process in high school.
Stevenson didn't disappoint in his homecoming year during his junior season, as he spent most of the season among North Carolina's starting unit. He played in 33 games (making 25 starts), averaging 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, often being the guy to do whatever it took to win.
His best outing came against Virginia, an 85-80 victory for the Tar Heels. Stevenson scored a career-high 17 points to lead the Tar Heels to a top-25 victory over the then-ranked No. 14 Cavaliers on the road.
While it's been silent on the Jarin Stevenson front leading up to this point, Tar Heel fans will certainly be relieved to know that he's here to stay to close out his college career. Given his in-state ties, the belief was that he would eventually decide to stay, but in the current state of college athletics, anything is possible.
Now, we can breathe a sigh of relief, as Jarin Stevenson is staying right where he belongs in Chapel Hill.
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