UNC basketball makes a cross country trip to see five-star Class of 2026 talent

While the primary focus is on adding talent from the Class of 2025, the UNC basketball program is keeping close tabs on one of the top players that the Class of 2026 has to offer.

According to HS Top Recruits, the UNC basketball program made a cross-country trip to visit five-star talent Miikka Muurinen. The 6-foot-10 forward currently ranks as the No. 12 overall player in the Class of 2026 (according to 247Sports Composite).

The UNC basketball program extended an offer to Muurinen on July 24 following his very impressive performance at the annual Peach Jam event. North Carolina may have an advantage in this recruitment, given Mauurinen's family ties to the university. 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.”

The Tar Heels aren't alone in this recruitment, as plenty of top-tier programs are involved. There's also some speculation that Mauurinen could reclassify to the Class of 2025, but it appears that, for now, the UNC basketball program is recruiting him for the 2026 class.

If he does make the jump up a year, it will be interesting to see where the Tar Heels stand in his recruitment. North Carolina could definitely still find room for him a year early, as his combination of size and shooting ability will translate to Hubert Davis' system whenever he decides he's ready for the college level.