Michael Malone and the UNC basketball program are still searching for additional frontcourt depth, mostly via the international market.
While their search has cast a rather wide net, there's one player who they have been recently linked to that they might just have the upper-hand with if he elects to pursue playing college basketball this season.
Neoklis Avdalas could help UNC lure in another international stud
Multiple reports have connected North Carolina with Greek superstar Alexandros Samodurov. While the 6-foot-11 big man is currently going through the NBA Draft process, David Sisk of TarHeel247 provided some insight in the podcast stream below about how UNC could be the favorite if he elects to withdraw from the 2026 NBA Draft class, citing a connection with one of the newest Tar Heels, Neoklis Avdalas.
“Same agents, number one,” Sisk said. “Number two, they (Samodurov and Avdalas) go back a long way from when they were together in Greece. They had even talked when they were younger about playing together if they went overseas to college or the pros, what have you. Evidently, they still have a close friendship.”
There seems to be two key components in this recruitment: a close friendship with Avdalas and the same agency representing both players.
Are the North Carolina Tar Heels about to build a Greek super-duo? 🇬🇷👀
— Dimche (@DimcheHoops) May 7, 2026
According to reports from @RL_Bynum, UNC is heavily pushing to land 6-11 Greek center Alexandros Samodurov! The plan? To reunite him with his former Panathinaikos teammate and current UNC commit, Neoklis… pic.twitter.com/pIR9AeY1x2
Samodurov shares the Panathinaikos pipeline with Avdalas, as both played for the EuroLeague club in 2022–23. At the youth level, they also crossed paths at Panathinaikos U18, so there definitely is already an on-court connection between the duo.
Imagine running that in Chapel Hill?!
In case you're unfamiliar with Samodurov's game, he is described as a big forward with a ton of versatility on both ends of the floor. He isn't a traditional stationary post piece, which is good considering how the landscape of college basketball has changed in recent memory, as it's vital for big men to be able to stretch the floor and do more than just look for touches near the basket.
As is the case with most international prospects, Samodurov will need to get stronger and learn to play with more physicality, but the overall traits are intrguing, especially given how he would fit with the current roster that Malone and his staff have assembled.
The Tar Heels are pushing to add at least one more big man for next year's roster, and Samodurov is certainly a name to keep on your watch list as the process plays out.
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