It didn't take long for Michael Malone to offer Paul Osaruyi, a Canadian-born five-star center who is currently playing in Scottsdale, Ariz. And now, word comes down that the 6-foot-10 big man will be heading to Chapel Hill soon enough for a visit.
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It's been a big week for Osaruyi, who received offers from the Tar Heels and Kentucky not long ago. He is planning to take trips to North Carolina and Arkansas in the near future according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. While the main focus is on the transfer portal for 2026, Malone entering the race for the five-star big man is also noteworthy:
NEWS: Bella Vista Prep's Paul Osaruyi is planning visits to Arkansas and North Carolina, Mike George of Klutch Sports tells DraftExpress.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 14, 2026
The 6'10 Canadian power forward is definitively remaining in the class of 2027 after winning the Chipotle Nationals championship. pic.twitter.com/Tgs1J5bd1r
Osaruyi is coming off of a busy stretch where he won the Chipotle National Championship with CIA Bella Vista Prep. From there, he headed to the Nike Hoops Summit showcase.
5-star center Paul Osaruyi will take a visit to UNC
Osaruyi is rated as one of the top 10 players in the country — 247Sports has him No. 5 overall and On3/Rivals has him rated No. 6. 247Sports' basketball recruiting director Adam Finkelstein gave the following scouting report on Osaruyi after watching him in January:
"He has all the tools to contend for the number one spot. He is explosively athletic and capable of making the type of emphatic plays around the rim that almost no one else can. He gave us multiple examples of that this week. He's not unskilled either. He can put the ball down with both hands, has a high release on his shot to get it off anytime, and long-term shooting potential. The problem is that he asserts himself only in spurts."
It's been all gas and no brakes for Malone since he was announced as the Tar Heels new coach. He has been active in the transfer portal with some high-profile targets, while dealing with some notable departures from last year's roster. Malone is also trying to make some waves in the 2026 recruiting cycle with Serbian big man Miikka Muurinen as a major target.
And while he's trying to field a strong team for next season, the future is closer than we think, so landing a player like Osaruyi in the 2027 class will make a big splash. First, UNC will need to roll out the red carpet for him during his trip to Chapel Hill, as the staff will want to make his time on campus an experience to remember.
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