Sayon Keita wastes no time visiting an iconic Chapel Hill spot upon arrival

The wait for Sayon Keita to be cleared to come to the United States is finally over, and the international big man has officially arrived at his new home in Chapel Hill.

With an approved visa, Keita is now in the state of North Carolina, as we got our first glimpse of him arriving.

Sayon Keita arrives at Raleigh/Durham airport

The image below shows Keita arriving at the airport, as he was greeted by both Michael Malone and Chuck Martin. Nothing says "welcome home" like being picked up at the airport by your coaches, both of whom played big roles in bringing the talented big man to Chapel Hill.

A few things to note here:

First, this dude is TALL!

While he is still very slim when it comes to being a big man, you could expect that North Carolina will be putting him on a path to add some weight and strength over the next few weeks. Just wait until this dude adds to his frame: he's going to be even more of a beast in the post than he already is!

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Additionally, before you say "Keita looks miserable," let's remember the logistics.

Coming from his international location, it's very likely that Keita was simply tired. The time difference is significant, given it would've been around 3:16 AM where he was previously located.

There's a good chance he was simply ready for some sleep!

The fun didn't stop there, as Martin made sure Keita got the full UNC experience on his first official day on campus. What better way to do that than to stop by one of the most iconic spots on Franklin Street for some lunch!

Keita enjoys lunch at Sutton's Drug Store

The real ones know how iconic Sutton's is, as it is a must-stop place to grab some lunch during your visit to Chapel Hill.

Martin made sure Keita knew right away about this legendary spot, one that we definitely think will be one that he frequently visits during his time in Chapel Hill!

Of course, Keita doesn't have much time to acclimate to his new home, given classes at North Carolina began on Monday. With only a day to spare before classes started, Keita had to move rather quickly to get everything in order, but fortunately, has a village of people helping him along the way.

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Two major hurdles have been cleared for Sayon Keita in a span of a few days. He was approved of his visa, which allowed him to head to Chapel Hill to begin his life as a college student-athlete. While NCAA clearance is still in the works, at least now Keita can get adjusted to life at North Carolina while preparing with his new team for the upcoming 2026-2027 season.

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