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UNC and Michael Malone in contact with former 5-star guard now in the portal

Joson Sanon played at St. John's last season and entered the transfer portal on April 15
ByCorey Long|
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Mar 14, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Solo Ball (1) falls to the court as St. John's Red Storm guard Joson Sanon (3) looks to handle the loose ball during the second half of the men's Big East Conference Tournament Championship at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Mar 14, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Solo Ball (1) falls to the court as St. John's Red Storm guard Joson Sanon (3) looks to handle the loose ball during the second half of the men's Big East Conference Tournament Championship at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

North Carolina wants to get in on the Joson Sanon sweepstakes.

It's been a little more than a week since Sanon entered the transfer portal and the phone has been ringing off the hook from teams interested in adding the St. John's guard into the fold. The Tar Heels are among a host of teams that have inquired about Sanon, according to Sam Kayser.

That's a pretty deep list of teams after the former five-star recruit. Sanon is looking for his third school after spending his freshman season with Arizona State. He had a strong freshman year with the Sun Devils, averaging 11.9 points per game and shooting almost 37 percent on 3-pointers as a part-time starter. Coming out of high school, he indeed was a five-star prospect per the 247Sports Composite.

Sanon transferred to St. John's, but his role as a part-time starter didn't change, and he actually saw a reduction in playing time with the Red Storm. The 6-foot-5 guard is probably looking for a full-time starting role or at least the guarantee that he'll have an opportunity to win that role. 

UNC has reached out to St. John's transfer guard Joson Sanon

It's been a major roster overhaul for Michael Malone in his first three weeks as the Tar Heels coach. North Carolina had 10 players enter the portal with two withdrawing and remaining with the program — guards Jaydon Young and Isaiah Denis. Six of the other eight players that entered the portal have found new homes, including two top recruits from the 2025 class — guards Derek Dixon (Arizona) and Luka Bogavac (Oklahoma State). 

Malone has also been busy with portal acquisitions in his attempt to completely transform the North Carolina back court. In the past week, the Tar Heels have received commitments from guards Terrence Brown (Utah) and Matt Able (N.C. State). North Carolina has also added 6-foot-9 stretch forward Neoklis Avdalas from Virginia Tech and French big man Maxim Logue, who played at Florida Atlantic last season and at Oregon State as a freshman. There may be more left to do after starting center Henri Veesaar declared for the NBA Draft.

The window to enter the transfer portal officially closed on April 21, but the business of trying to sign players currently in the portal will continue. There is no reported timetable for when Sanon intends to make a decision.

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