Chapel Hill Regional Set, Neo Signs, Keita Wins EuroLeague Title, Latest On Samodurov
Plus: More Basketball offers, Women's Lacrosse falls short of NCAA title, Kenan Stadium renovations begin,
UNC Baseball hosts a tough Chapel Hill regional with VCU, Tennessee, and ECU coming to town this weekend. Neoklis Avdalas has signed with UNC Basketball, Seyon Keita won a EuroLeague title, Alexandros Samodurov is still on Michael Malone’s radar, Women’s Lacrosse fell just short of an NCAA title, Kenan Stadium renovations have begun, and more. On to the updates…
🏀 UNC Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal
Neoklis Avdalas has officially joined the Carolina Basketball family after UNC announced that the Virginia Tech transfer combo guard signed with the Tar Heels this past week. Avdalas averaged 12.1 points and 4.6 assists in 31 games for the Hokies as a freshman last season.
North Carolina is still awaiting incoming transfer shooting guard Matt Able’s decision on whether to remain in the NBA Draft or play for the Tar Heels next season. Able has until Wednesday, May 27 to withdraw from the Draft and remain eligible to play for UNC.
Tipoff time for UNC Basketball’s matchup against Kentucky next season has been announced. The Tar Heels and Wildcats will tip off in the CBS Sports Classic in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Dec. 19 at 2:30 p.m. on CBS, following the noon matchup between Kansas and Ohio State.
Carolina and Kentucky could also potentially face off in a new and exciting college basketball event. The proposal, currently in the planning stages, is an eight-team pool-play event called the “Diamond Cup” that would debut for the 2027-28 season and reportedly include Arizona, UConn, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and UNC.
Former UNC forward and 2009 national champion Deon Thompson announced his retirement from his 16-year playing career. This follows the news that Thompson will be returning to UNC to attend Kenan-Flagler Business School while serving as a graduate assistant coach on the UNC Basketball staff:
“After 16 years, 22 teams, and 14 countries, it’s time for me to say goodbye to playing the game that I love and that has given me so much. The game has given me so many unforgettable moments and memories, along with incredible people.“
Former UNC guard and 2005 national champion Jackie Manuel was selected to participate in the inaugural NABC Flight School on May 21. The current American University basketball associate head coach was one of just 25 assistant coaches across the country invited to the event.
Manuel’s former Tar Heel teammate David Noel is continuing his basketball coaching career as an assistant coach with the UNCG Spartans after spending the past six seasons as a G League assistant with the Capital City Go-Go, Motor City Cruise, and Greensboro Swarm.
On the recruiting front, UNC basketball center commit Sayon Keita finished with five points, seven rebounds, and a +13 on-court scoring differential to help FC Barcelona’s U18 squad to victory in the NextGen EuroLeague Championship game in Athens, Greece on Sunday.
The Tar Heels also continue to recruit other players from the transfer portal and international ranks, including Greek center Alexandros Samodurov and others. Here’s more on where those recruitments stand…
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