And here we go.
You just had a feeling that things were going to start heating up for Michael Malone and UNC in the transfer portal, as the new Tar Heels head coach is working overtime in trying to build out his roster for next season. Well, there's a Notre Dame transfer Tar Heels fans want and it looks like Malone is making a serious push to get things done.
Jaydon Young explored the transfer portal but decided Chapel Hill is still home
That's because moments ago, the trustworthy Jon Rothstein reported that wing Jalen Haralson is down to three schools, and the Tar Heels are among his finalists. This isn't going to be easy, as UNC is battling Ohio State and Tennessee.
Source: Notre Dame transfer Jalen Haralson has cut his list to the following programs.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 11, 2026
Tennessee
Ohio State
North Carolina
Averaged 16.2 PPG and 4.0 RPG last season.
UNC has made the final cut for former 5-star wing Jalen Haralson
So, you're saying there's a chance? Haralson is coming off a spectacular freshman season with Notre Dame, scoring more than 16 points per game and adding four rebounds per contest. Him leaving South Bend is a big blow for the Irish, but this was a move that plenty of people saw coming.
He was receiving a ton of interest in the portal, but it's pretty darn telling that he has already trimmed things down to a top three, with the Tar Heels, Buckeyes and Vols all ready to do whatever they can to get things over the line here.
Obviously, the next step for Malone and Co. will be to get Haralson on campus for an official visit. We all know the impact a quick trip to Chapel Hill can make on a recruit. The same can be said for both Knoxville and Columbus, which is why UNC is going to want to act quickly.
Coming out of high school, Haralson signed with Notre Dame over Auburn, Indiana, Michigan State and many others. He was ranked five stars, the No. 3 small forward in the country and No. 17 prospect overall for the 2025 class per the 247Sports Composite. After his tremendous first year in college, he's ready to make another splash as a sophomore. Will he do so in the ACC? North Carolina fans sure hope that's how things play out. Let's see what Malone can do.