UNC basketball has clear advantage with 5-star who has Heels among finalists

There was some great news this weekend regarding a major basketball prospect when five-star Finnish national Miikka Muurinen listed UNC among his top seven schools.  

Muurinen, a 6-foot-10 forward from Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, placed the Tar Heels in a group with Arkansas, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, N.C. State and Duke. 

It's a solid group of finalists and Muurinen plans on taking all of his remaining official visits this fall. But when Muurinen makes his way to Chapel Hill, he'll get to be on the same campus that his mother, Jenni Laaksonen, played from 2001-03. 

Laaksonen played for legendary Heels coach Sylvia Hatchell and appeared in 52 games over two seasons.

Family ties are always a good thing in recruiting, especially when battling top programs for a 6-foot-10 athlete that has an all-court game like Muurinen.

Could Muurinen be the perfect replacement for another five-star Heel?

Muurinen, who is the ninth-best player in the class of 2026 according to composite rankings, decided against the summer prospect circuit, to go back to Finland and prepare for the FIBA Eurobasket tournament coming in August and September.

If Caleb Wilson turns out to be everything that Tar Heel nation believes he will be there is a good chance he'll be in the 2026 NBA Draft, Muurinen would be the perfect replacement for Wilson as they have similar length and physical traits.

Eric Bossi of ScoutHoops describes Muurinen as a long and lanky athlete with an advanced set of skill, He handles the ball well for his size, can step out and make jumpers all while being a lob threat and somebody who can consistently beat other bigs from rim to rim in transition."