Michael Malone did not leave the NBA for North Carolina to make modest claims. The first-year Tar Heels coach believes the completely reconstructed UNC backcourt can become one of the best in the country.
During a recent press conference, Malone highlighted transfers Terrence Brown, Matt Able and Neoklis Avdalas while discussing the roster he built after replacing Hubert Davis.
“I think those three guys combine for one of the more dynamic and exciting backcourts in all of college basketball,” Malone said, according to the Tar Heel Tribune.
North Carolina’s Newcomers Bring Three Different Strengths
Brown gives UNC an established scorer after averaging 19.9 points per game at Utah last season. Malone’s challenge is turning Brown into more than a player who can create his own shot.
The coach wants Brown to demonstrate that he can run a team, facilitate offense and improve the players around him. If Brown handles those responsibilities, he could become one of the ACC’s most productive guards.
Able brings another offensive dimension after flashing his shooting ability as a freshman at NC State. Malone praised Able’s defense and perimeter shooting but believes the sophomore can also develop into a playmaker.
Then there is Avdalas, a 6-foot-9 guard whose combination of size and vision could make him the most unusual member of the group. Malone called Avdalas a willing facilitator who makes his teammates better and said the former Virginia Tech standout has improved after spending the summer in Chapel Hill.
Those skill sets make the trio especially intriguing. Brown can attack as a scorer, Able can stretch defenses and Avdalas can see over smaller guards to create opportunities.
North Carolina’s official roster announcement included only five returning players and 11 newcomers. That enormous turnover means Malone must build chemistry quickly, but it also gave him an opportunity to redesign the roster around his preferred style.
The former Denver Nuggets coach is accustomed to building offenses around unselfish players who can make decisions with the ball. His first North Carolina backcourt appears to have been constructed with that exact goal in mind.
The Tar Heels have invested heavily in Malone’s vision, reportedly committing more than $20 million to the 2026-27 roster. Now comes the difficult part.
Malone must turn an expensive collection of newcomers into a connected team.
If Brown, Able and Avdalas become the backcourt their coach believes they can be, North Carolina’s massive offseason gamble could pay off much sooner than expected.
Add us as a preferred source on Google