UNC Basketball Falls at SMU, Football Adds Transfer Portal QB, Hubert Davis on the Recruiting Trail
Plus: Key football players re-sign, Drake Maye makes 2nd Pro Bowl, Women's Basketball's shooting woes, Women's Soccer signs 3 transfers
Happy New Year, and I hope it’s off to a great start. Here’s how the Tar Heels have started 2026. UNC Men’s Basketball handled Florida State before falling at SMU, Football landed a transfer portal QB and re-signed several key starters, Hubert Davis is back on the recruiting trail, Drake Maye made his 2nd NFL Pro Bowl, Women’s Basketball split a pair of games, and much more. On to the updates…
🏀 Basketball
The No. 12 UNC Men’s Basketball team started ACC play on the right foot last Tuesday, handling visiting Florida State, 79-66. Caleb Wilson put on a show in front of numerous NBA scouts, scoring 22 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Seth Trimble continued to show how vital he is to this team, scoring 20 on a night that Henri Veesaar “struggled” with “only” 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Other postgame notes include:
UNC allowed fewer than 75 points for the 14th time in as many games, the most-such games to begin a season since 1981-82.
Caleb Wilson became the first UNC freshman to score 20 or more points in six consecutive games, breaking Phil Ford’s record of 5.
This was the seventh game when both Wilson and Veesaar had double-doubles, which is already third most by a Tar Heel duo in a single season.
The outcome wasn’t so great in Dallas on Saturday, as the No. 12 Tar Heels ran into a hot-shooting, athletic SMU team that exploded for a 58-point second half en route to a 97-83 win (Box Score), dropping UNC to 1-1 in the ACC Standings.
Carolina shot 48% for the game, made 12 3-pointers, outrebounded SMU, committed just 10 turnovers to go with 21 assists, and outscored the Mustangs from the foul line. But the Tar Heels defense that has played so well to begin the season ran into a team that couldn’t miss. It happens.
Now, UNC has a week to learn from the loss and get ready for Wake Forest next Saturday in Chapel Hill.
🚨 DVR Alert! The ACC Network in collaboration with ESPN is releasing a documentary on UNC’s 1993 NCAA Championship team:
“We’re No. 1! 1993 North Carolina Tar Heels,” a documentary chronicling the national championship-winning Tar Heels men’s basketball team will debut Saturday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. on ACC Network immediately following the game between Wake Forest at UNC (6 p.m., ACCN).
And Brice Johnson is continuing his overseas basketball career, signing with Darkhan United in Mongolia and posting a 21-point double-double in his first game back following a 6-month layoff.
🏈 Football
North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez announced his intentions to remain with the Tar Heels next season, per On3’s Pete Nakos. This follows the news that the Tar Heels will be hiring new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, although no official announcement has been made.
Several Tar Heel standouts also re-signed with the team over the past week, including defensive lineman Leroy Jackson, defensive back Jaiden Patterson, running back Demon June, and defensive back Kaleb Cost.
Congratulations to UNC cornerback Marcus Allen for being selected to the East-West Shrine Bowl, which takes place Jan. 27 in Frisco, Texas. It’s a great opportunity for NFL Draft hopefuls to show off in front of scouts and pro personnel.
Former North Carolina quarterback and NFL MVP contender Drake Maye has been selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl, making Maye just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to begin his career with multiple consecutive Pro Bowl invitations.
Last Sunday in the Patriots’ 42-10 win over the Jets, Maye became the first player in NFL history to complete 90% of his passes while throwing for 250 yards and five(!) touchdowns. His 99.8 quarterback rating was the highest single-game rating ever, dating back to 2006 when the metric was established.
🏈 Football Recruiting & Transfer Portal
On the football recruiting trail, the Tar Heels finished 2025 on a high note, landing class of 2027 Mission Hills, California 3-star safety Chuck Roberts, whose other finalists included Florida, Miami, Missouri, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington.
The transfer portal officially opened on Friday, Jan. 2, and several more players have entered the portal: LB Chinedu Onyeagoro, DL Kamarion Thomas, RB Jaylon Nichols, LB Austin Alexander, and TE Connor Cox. Inside Carolina has the complete list of transfers if you’d like to keep up.
UNC is also hosting numerous potential incoming transfers now that the portal is in full swing. Here are the The Tar Heels four weekend commitments with links to their commitment articles.
Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards
Charleston Southern offensive lineman Andrew Threatt
Louisiana-Monroe wide receiver Jonathan Bibbs
Colorado State tight end Jaxxon Warren
🏀 Basketball Recruiting
Class of 2026 5-star UNC small forward commit Maximo “Maxi” Adams was named co-MVP of the Les Schwab Invitational over the holiday break. Adams averaged 14.3 points per game for his championship Sierra Canyon squad.
Hubert Davis was also on the recruiting trail at Broughton High School in Raleigh to get a look at class of 2027 5-star big men CJ Rosser and Obinna Ekezie. Both players hold offers from UNC and spoke with TarHeel247 about their recruitment and play at the event.
🏀 Women’s Basketball
No. 15 UNC Women’s Basketball tipped off the new year in strong fashion, using a 21-8 fourth-quarter run to put away the visiting California Golden Bears, 71-55. Nyla Harris came up big, scoring 13 points, pulling down 10 rebounds, and leading the Tar Heels with a +22 on-court point differential.
Sunday was a different story, however, as UNC shot just 3-of-14 (21%) from 3-point range and 18-of-30 (60%) from the free-throw line in a humbling 77-71 overtime loss to Stanford in Chapel Hill (Box Score). Nyla Harris led the Tar Heels with 18 points.
And welcome home to mid-year freshman enrollee Noelle Bofia, who signed with the Tar Heels in November. Bofia will practice with the team the remainder of this season before joining them on the court next season.
🏅 Olympic Sports
⚽ UNC Women’s Soccer announced the signing of three highly rated transfers:
Summer Denigan: A Georgia transfer, First-Team All-American midfielder, and 2025 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist.
Lilliah Blum: Transferred from Utah after leading the Utes with four goals as a midfielder last season, including the game-winner over NC State.
Izzi Stratton: A defender transferring from BYU after receiving Second Team All-Big 12 and Second Team All-Midwest Region honors.
🤼♂️ No. 13 UNC Wrestling 125-pounder Kysen Terukina was named ACC Wrestler of the Week following two tough wins last weekend over wrestlers from No. 6 Nebraska and No. 12 Northern Iowa.
🎾 Finally, UNC Women’s Tennis has announced the signing of former NC State standout Maddy Zampardo, who played No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles for the Wolfpack.
⏪ This Week In Tar Heel History
January 8, 2017: UNC men's basketball beats NC State 107-56 in Chapel Hill (Box Score). It's the most points ever scored by the Tar Heels against the Wolfpack, and the 51-point win is the largest margin of victory over NCSU since 1921.
🎂 This Week’s Tar Heel Birthdays
Happy birthday shouts out to…
James Michael McAdoo, 2× NBA champion (2015, 2017), 11-year NBA/Overseas Veteran: Jan. 4 (33)
Kivuusama Mays, 2x All-ACC Linebacker, 4-year NFL Veteran: Jan. 7 (51)
John “Hook” Dillon, 2x Basketball All-American: Jan. 8 (1924-2004)
Al Goldstein, 1958 All-American End: Jan. 8 (1936-1991)
Jesse Holley, 2005 NCAA Basketball Champion, 5-Year NFL Wide Receiver: Jan. 8 (42)
Amos Lawrence, 2x All-ACC Running Back, Super Bowl XVI Champion: Jan. 9 (68)
Eddie Mason, 8-year NFL Linebacker: Jan. 9 (54)
Robert Woodard, 3x All-ACC Pitcher, UNC’s All-Time Winningest Pitcher, College Baseball Coach: Jan. 10 (41)
🏁 Final Thoughts
Thanks again to everyone for supporting the Tar Heel Times Newsletter. I hope your New Year is off to a great start! Please leave a comment to let me know how you’re enjoying the content, what you’d like to see more of, or anything else that’s on your mind. I truly appreciate your support.
Go Heels!
James
Don't care much about the NBA, but can't understand why Brice Johnson didn't have a 12 year career in the league. I know he had some injury issues early in his career, but Mongolia?