The final shoe dropped for UNC when the Tar Heels finally made a decision on who to hire to replace the fired Hubert Davis. The choice came down to former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, and it is one that fans are hoping pans out in a big way.
Malone will certainly have some adjusting to do in the college ranks, but he seems to be settling in nicely and getting to work right away. The biggest piece of work in front of Malone is building a roster for next season, starting with the transfer portal.
Michael Malone sets his sights on Aiden Sherrell out of the transfer portal
It seems that Malone is working to get in contact with many players, but one of the top ones he is going after is former Alabama forward Aiden Sherrell. The 6-foot-10 Detroit native is one player that many are pushing for out of the portal, including UNC's fiercest rival, Duke. Sherrell indeed is one of the top transfers in the country, as he's ranked the No. 3 PF and No. 10 portal player overall per the 247Sports rankings.
As we begin to find out which players in the transfer portal are getting more than an introductory "hello" from UNC, Aiden Sherrell looks like one of those guys Michael Malone is taking seriously. By @CoachDavidSisk https://t.co/zz9daPrNXu
— Andrew Jones (@AJTarHeel247) April 10, 2026
It is no wonder that Sherrell is a highly sought-after player in the portal when he averaged 11.1 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks this season, and he was only a sophomore. Malone has a lot of experience working with big men in the paint. Just look at what he did with Nikola Jokić with the Nuggets.
Malone will definitely have a fight on his hands for the top-tier transfer, as not just Duke is after Sherrell. Many teams are going to be in the mix for the former McDonald's All-American. UNC will need a lot of help in the paint next season with quite a few players expected to suit up for different teams next campaign.
Sherrell took a big leap this past season with Alabama, and with the right development, he could take an even bigger one next season at UNC. The Tar Heels have the money to lure him in, but Malone has to seal the deal.