UNC Basketball extends offer to Class of 2026 forward Miikka Muurinen

Miikka Muurinen continues to be one of the highest-rising prospects in the Class of 2026, as he now has a scholarship offer on the table from Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program.

Inside Carolina was the first to report on this news, as they've been actively keeping tabs on this recruitment. The offer from the Tar Heels comes following Mauurinen's impressive showing at Peach Jam, as the 6-foot-10 forward averaged 17.8 points and four rebounds per-game while knocking down more than 60% of his shot attempts from the floor.

North Carolina may have an advantage in this recruitment given Mauurinen's family ties to the University of North Carolina. His mother, Jenni, played for the UNC women's basketball program for two seasons.

Following Peach Jam, Travis Branham of 247Sports tabbed Mauurinen as the "biggest riser" following the AAU circuit's biggest event.

“Muurinen is oozing with talent and upside and looked every bit like a top-10 recruit in the 2026 class. He was outstanding all week long, utilizing his skillset, 6-foot-10 frame, his long arms and athleticism to impact the game in a variety of ways. He's got an edge to him as a competitor. And when he wasn't making shots, he showed that he can impact the game as a defender and a slasher. However, at 6-foot-10, the biggest strength in his game is his pure shooting stroke from 3. He can make shots off the catch-and-pull and use his size to shoot over top of the defense.”

As programs, such as Kentucky, Duke and Michigan have recently jumped into the mix, expect many more top-tier programs to get involved in the near future. Given his size and skillset, plus what he's shown on the court thus far, he is a prospect that should continue to rise up the recruiting rankings as he continues to showcase his talent on the national level.

Right now, 247Sports tabs him as the No. 44 overall player in the Class of 2026, but it's very possible that he becomes a five-star caliber prospect by the time his recruitment comes to an end.

This would be a big-time addition for Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program, as Muurinen would be a perfect fit at the stretch-four position for the Tar Heels.