Northwestern’s Cade Bennerman Announces Commitment to UNC Men’s Basketball

Cade Bennerman, who spent his freshman season at Northwestern, announced his commitment to UNC out of the transfer portal Monday.

Bennerman, a seven-foot center, arrived at Northwestern as a three-star recruit out of high school who 247 Sports ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of Tennessee. He was a star at Nashville’s Father Ryan High School, averaging 13.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while leading Father Ryan to its best season since 2009. Bennerman was named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State Team and was a nominee for Tennessee’s Mr. Basketball award. Bennerman redshirted his true freshman season at Northwestern and did not play in a regular-season game, leaving him with four years of eligibility in Chapel Hill.

Bennerman’s commitment comes just days after UNC center Henri Veesaar, a second team All-ACC honoree during the 2025-26 season, announced his intention to leave Chapel Hill for the NBA Draft. Veesaar’s departure, as well as the transfers of James Brown and Ivan Matlekovic, left the Tar Heels with just one center on their roster prior to Bennerman’s commitment: Florida Atlantic transfer Maxim Logue.

Bennerman is one of a number of newcomers, both from high school and the transfer portal, who will join the UNC program in head coach Michael Malone’s first season in charge. For a full list of the new additions, click here.

Featured image via Northwestern Athletics

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