CBB Rank 2025: No. 25, UNC Basketball

After barely getting into the NCAA Tournament in 2025, UNC basketball reloads with hopes of making the trip to March Madness a bit easier this time around.

The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: UNC basketball.

Last season, UNC basketball was the height of the conversation on Selection Sunday. As a powerhouse program on the bubble, many college basketball fans preferred to see other teams get in rather than the Tar Heels, but North Carolina saw their name appear, took down San Diego State in the First Four, and played hard against Ole Miss, falling in the first round.

This season, it’s a whole new core, with RJ Davis, Ian Jackson, Elliot Cadeau, and Ven-Allen Lubin all gone. Actually, it’s really a new team, besides Seth Trimble and James Brown (who mostly played in blowouts), and a few more players who also can be seen as bench-warmers.

Trimble figures to be a locker room leader and floor leader, as the top scorer from last season, including transfers Hubert Davis brought in.

The point guard spot should go to Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans, who played solidly for a good Rams team last year. He’ll share the backcourt with Trimble and Luka Bogavac, one of the top international recruits making their way to college hoops this season. Bogavac has had some eligibility issues, but the NCAA just said he was good to go on Wednesday, now just waiting on UNC’s final decision.

The frontcourt will feature five-star recruit Caleb Wilson and Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar, who was the prized pickup in the portal for Davis.

It’s a good starting five, but I’m not sure if it is one of the best in the ACC. But that’s where the bench comes into play. Alabama forward Jarin Stevenson, promising West Virginia guard Jonathan Powell, and top-50 recruit Derek Dixon should be the first to come off the bench. Former Virginia Tech guard Jaydon Young is also in the mix, and the combo of James Brown and Zayden High will be there to help back up the big men.

All-in-all, the bench makes up for a lack of star power in the starting lineup, unless of course, Wilson can live up to his praise as a top-five recruit in the 247Sports Composite rankings. Hubert Davis will need Brown or High to improve in order to have maximum depth down low, but the wing play should be off the charts for the Tar Heels.

I’m not sure they improved from last year, because RJ Davis was a flat-out star, but on paper, it seems to be a group that will fit together, which could be the biggest positive difference after last year.

Head coach: Hubert Davis (5th season overall, all at UNC)

2024-25 record: 23-14 (13-7)

2025 postseason finish: Lost to Ole Miss (71-64) in first round of NCAA Tournament

Notable departures: 

• EVERYONE (besides Seth Trimble and bench warmers)

Notable non-conference games: 

• vs. Kansas (Nov. 7)
• vs. St. Bonaventure (Nov. 25) – Fort Myers Tip-Off
• vs. Michigan State (Nov. 27) – Fort Myers Tip-Off
• at Kentucky (Dec. 2)
• vs. Georgetown (Dec. 7)
• vs. Ohio State (Dec. 20) – Atlanta, GA

Projected Rotation

PG: Kyan Evans (6-2, 175, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 10.6 PPG, 3.1 APG, 2.9 RPG, 44.6 3P% (Colorado State)

SG: Seth Trimble (6-3, 200, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 11.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.4 SPG

SF: Luka Bogavac (6-6, 215, Jr.)

International recruit from Montenegro

PF: Caleb Wilson (6-10, 215, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #5-ranked recruit

C: Henri Veesaar (7-0, 225, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 9.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 BPG, 59.2 FG% (Arizona)

6: Jarin Stevenson (6-10, 215, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 5.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.8 APG (Alabama)

7:  Jonathan Powell (6-6, 190, So.)

2024-25 stats: 8.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.7 APG, 35.2 3P% (West Virginia)

8: Derek Dixon (6-5, 200, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #44-ranked recruit

9: Jaydon Young (6-4, 200, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 8.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.4 APG, 34.7 FG% (Virginia Tech)

10: James Brown (6-10, 240, So.)

2024-25 stats: 1.2 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.0 APG, 2.9 MPG, 18 GP

11: Zayden High (6-10, 230, So.)

2023-24 stats: 0.8 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.1 APG, 4.5 MPG, 23 GP

Did not play in 2024-25

12: Isaiah Denis (6-4, 180, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #79-ranked recruit

13: Ivan Matlekovic (7-0, 255, So.)

2024-25 stats: 2.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.2 APG, 6.0 MPG, 5 GP (High Point)

UNC basketball team MVP: Seth Trimble

After RJ Davis, Trimble was arguably UNC’s best player last season. He was third on the team in scoring, second in rebounding, and first in steals. As a senior, he’s set up to be one of the best two-way players in the ACC this season.

There are some issues with Trimble. For one, he’s not a great three-point shooter. He attempted more last season, but at 26.6%, I’m sure UNC fans would be fine if he doesn’t force the issue this season.

Trimble is really best in transition, because he’s extra speedy with the ball and really gets things moving. He should be able to help run point guard along with Evans, which could be a cool dynamic to see. We saw flashes of it last year, but with Davis gone, it opens up the door for the ball to be in Trimble’s hands even more.

But in terms of scoring the basketball as a number-one option, I’m unsure what Trimble’s ceiling is. He had 27 in a game against Dayton and 10 other games of at least 15 points, but that was with other great players around him – not the focus. I just wouldn’t expect Trimble’s numbers to boom just because he’s the lone returning senior. He’s a great player, but within himself, he’ll provide the best outcomes.

UNC basketball make-or-break player: Jarin Stevenson

I just love what Jarin Stevenson could bring to this UNC basketball team off the bench. He’s a big man who plays with energy inside and forces teams to respect him outside. But above all, he’s a winner, coming to this program after spending two seasons with Alabama.

That could be Stevenson’s biggest asset. While he played solid minutes at Bama, he probably had to give some up compared to other schools because of how deep Nate Oats’ bench was. But when Stevenson did enter the game, he made sure it counted.

That’s exactly what UNC needs if Stevenson is to play at the highest possible level. I’m sure he can tack on a few extra minutes, but the biggest thing here is for him to provide that spark off the bench. He’s a quality add from an even more quality team, and you can’t speak more highly about guys like that.

Key analytic: Opponent points per game

The biggest reason for UNC’s struggles last season was its defense. While offensive talent was notable, defense was a problem. The Tar Heels gave up 73.4 PPG in ACC play, ranking 12th in the conference.

Sure, that wasn’t miserable, but for a team that plays in a conference that hasn’t had a great past few years, you can’t have a glaring weak spot in such a broad part of the game. Simply put, if they want to get off the bubble, they’ve got to defend better.

Of course, Trimble is a great guy to get back, because he seeks out steals and makes them count. Veesaar should be an improvement down low, with Jalen Washington as the only true center in the team’s rotation last year. That’s arguably the biggest overall improvement on this roster.

It’s going to have to be the whole team making changes, and of course, it’s mostly all new players. But it’s gotta start on defense for North Carolina this season.

UNC basketball 2025-26 projections

Projected conference finish: 3rd in the ACC

Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 exit