With how busy Michael Malone has been for North Carolina on the recruiting trail, it's easy to forget that he's still not done finalizing the roster. For a while now, the hope has been that Malone could still add an experienced guard for depth purposes. Will Oregon transfer Wei Lin be the one to help fill the void there this late in the game?
UNC commit Kevin Thomas is already getting plenty of love from NBA scouts
While, yes, the majority of UNC's efforts are finished via the portal this offseason, Lin remains uncommitted and he's still looking for a new place to call home. Per multiple reports, the Heels have been in contact with Lin to gauge his interest in potentially trading in his Ducks jersey for a Carolina one. While this wouldn't be considered a blockbuster get, Lin would provide UNC with a reliable option off the bench if he does end up committing:
North Carolina has one roster spot left and could add important point-guard depth behind Terrence Brown if it lures 22-year-old Oregon transfer Wei Lin. Read about his interesting career path. The story link is in the replies. #UNC
— R.L. Bynum (@RL_Bynum) June 6, 2026
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Oregon transfer Wei Lin has become a new target for UNC and Michael Malone
Lin sure is an intriguing target. He's 22 years old, which speaks to his experience playing the game. The veteran guard just wrapped up his first season playing for Dana Altman in Eugene, averaging 6.6 points and 1.7 assists per game. He posted those numbers in 17.5 minutes a night.
Before making the move to Oregon, Lin had three years of pro ball in China under his belt. He has two years of eligibility remaining according to reporter R.L. Bynum. Let's make one thing clear here too: Lin would not step in and be a starter for the Tar Heels, as the expectation is that Terrence Brown will be the floor general for Malone. The hype is through the roof for Brown next season.
With that said, having this kind of experience ready to take the floor could be invaluable for Malone and the Tar Heels. For now, Lin remains wide open with his recruitment, but the next move for the UNC staff should be to get him on campus for an official visit in the near future.
North Carolina has been quite busy working the portal already, with Brown, Matt Able, Neoklis Avdalas and Cade Bennerman making their way to town. With Brown in particular, he was a stud for the Utah Utes last season, scoring nearly 20 points per game. The Heels were in a battle with Kansas and Kentucky for his signature, with Malone and Co. ultimately coming out on top.
It was a monster recruiting win for UNC. Now, there's still some help needed behind him and it's exactly where a player like Lin can come on. Again, no final decision has been made here yet, but there's clearly interest on Malone's side in getting something done in the near future. Could a surprise guard pop up on UNC's radar soon as well? We can't rule that out either for the time being, but it's no question time to keep a close eye on Lin moving forward.
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