UNC Basketball's Greek Connection, Able and Trimble at the Combine, Dominic Dominates

Plus: Indya Nivar makes the cut, Bobby Petrino interview, Baseball sweeps, Lacrosse and Women's Tennis advance, Softball season ends, Eric Church visits Carolina

Greek center Alexandros Samodurov | Photo: FIBA

UNC Basketball is pursuing Greek center Alexandros Samodurov, Seth Trimble and Matt Able are in Chicago for pre-draft combines, Indya Nivar makes the Atlanta Dream roster, Bobby Petrino discusses UNC Football, Baseball sweeps Pitt, Lacrosse and Women’s Tennis advance, Softball’s season ends, and Eric Church visits Carolina. On to the updates…

🏀 UNC Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal

The NBA Draft Combine begins Monday in Chicago. And although UNC incoming transfer shooting guard Matt Able will be participating, he helped allay fan concerns that he may choose to remain in the draft by officially signing with the Tar Heels this past week. Like many future NBA hopefuls, Able appears to be going through the process to identify areas of improvement he can target this upcoming season.

Fellow guard Evan Smith is also returning to the UNC Basketball Roster this season. While not a household name to a lot of Carolina fans, Smith holds the distinction of being the last remaining player from the UNC JV Basketball team. Coach Michael Malone met with Smith and was so impressed by his journey that he invited him to remain with the team.

“When UNC basketball player Evan Smith runs onto the floor of the Smith Center, he wears number 32. It’s a number that was worn by Tar Heel greats. But as the last-ever varsity walk-on from the now-defunct JV basketball team, Smith’s journey to Roy Williams Court wasn’t quite like theirs.”

And while Smith is UNC’s last JV player, former UNC guard Seth Trimble could be one of the Tar Heels’ last 4-year players, given the new college basketball landscape. Trimble was at the G League Combine over the weekend and no doubt impressed scouts with his 43.5-inch(!) vertical leap to lead all combine participants.

On the recruiting trail, the UNC Basketball staff currently has two big men on its radar and hopes to sign at least one of them. Here’s where things stand with those recruitments…