Is the UNC basketball program still a top contender for this Kentucky transfer?

After grabbing standout Belmont transfer Cade Tyson and 6-foot-8 Vanderbilt Forward Ven-Allen Lubin, the UNC basketball program may be prepped to add more depth to its 2024-25 roster.

Ugonna Onyenso, a 7-foot center from the University of Kentucky, is eyeing a transfer to North Carolina, according to 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein, who considers the Tar Heels a “top option.”   

The big man from Nigeria entered the transfer portal on April 23 after declaring for the draft on April 15th. After two years with the Wildcats, Onyenso could transfer to North Carolina with two years of remaining eligibility. 

This past season with Kentucky, Onyenso averaged 3.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and an astounding 2.8 blocks per game in just 18 minutes per game.

His reported 7-foot-5 wingspan would significantly contribute to the Heel’s size on the defensive side of the ball, where Armando Bacot's presence will be missed. The Kentucky transfer’s size on the glass would also be a plus, as the heels look to replace the 11.8 rebounds a game Bacot produced in the 2023 season.

Throughout the 2023 season, Oyenso shot an effective 55% from the field, including eight games where he was perfect from the field.

Onyenso has reportedly narrowed his list of potential landing spots for next season to just three schools— North Carolina, Alabama, and Louisville.

Alabama seems a less likely option due to the 6-foot-11 Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoruyi, who announced his commitment to Alabama on May 5.

Adding Lubin, who committed to North Carolina Thursday morning, could scare Onyenso away from Chapel Hill. A school like Louisville may guarantee him more minutes.

Nevertheless, the 7-footer would provide great relief for big man Jalen Washington, who is projected to start at the center position this fall.

The transfer would bode well for Head Coach Hubert Davis’s resume, who has been elite at attracting talent in the portal since his tenure began.