Kennedy Meeks will return to UNC for his senior season, the school announced on Wednesday.

In his first three seasons, Meeks has averaged 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds and shot 55.4 percent from the floor in 104 games.  He has started 77 of those 104 games, including 28 games in the 2015-2016 season.

Meeks was one of two Tar Heel underclassmen to declare for the NBA Draft.  Because he did not sign with an agent, he still had the option to return for his senior season of college basketball.

Justin Jackson also declared for the NBA Draft.  Like Meeks, he did not sign with an agent which means he can return to play for the Tar Heels if he chooses.  Unlike Meeks, Jackson received an invitation to next week’s NBA Combine.  He is allowed to participate in that event and does not have to make his final decision until May 25.  The draft is June 23.

Meeks explained his decision in a statement:

“I’m thankful I had the chance to explore my draft options, but I’m excited about the opportunity to rejoin my teammates and work toward having another outstanding season at UNC.  I appreciate the support my coaches and teammates gave me during this process as we gathered information about my professional opportunities at this time. The feedback on what I have to work on so that I can have a great senior year, help my team have a great season and be ready to take that next step is invaluable.”

“Kennedy did the right thing in taking the time to see where he stood with the NBA Draft at this point in his career, an opportunity we encourage all of our players to take,” says Carolina head coach Roy Williams in a release. “I think Kennedy’s made the right decision in returning to school to finish his degree and put himself in better position toward playing professional basketball, which is his dream. If he works hard this summer, he can have a big-time senior season and also help our team reach its goals.”

Kennedy Meeks needs only 19 points in his senior campaign to become the 73rd 1,000-point scorer in Carolina history.

Related Stories
‹
Here's the Complete Bracket for the 2026 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament begins Tuesday at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. UNC is the No. 4 seed in the field and is seeking its first tournament title since 2016. Here’s the complete tournament bracket, which will be updated throughout the week: For ACC Tournament ticket information, click here. Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription […]
'This is a Horrendous Feeling': UNC Men's Basketball Faces Harsh Reality After ACC Tournament Exit
A locker room inside Charlotte’s Spectrum Center might seem like an odd place to see a fork in the road, but that’s exactly what the Tar Heels found when they trudged back inside following their 80-79 defeat to Clemson in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals Thursday night. Because now, Carolina can’t afford to play flat-footed basketball […]
Clemson Outlasts UNC Men's Basketball in ACC Tournament Quarterfinals
No. 5 seed Clemson made No. 4 UNC’s stay in Charlotte a short one, beating the Tar Heels 80-79 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals Thursday night. The Tigers were playing their second game in two days, while the game was Carolina’s first at the tournament. UNC led by six points early at 14-8, but Clemson […]
UNC Men's Basketball in the 2026 ACC Tournament: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Times
The 2026 ACC Tournament will take place in Charlotte this week. UNC received a double bye into Thursday’s quarterfinal round as the No. 4 seed in the field. The Tar Heels are seeking their first tournament title since 2016. If you aren’t following the team to Charlotte, here’s how you can follow along at home: […]
Chansky's Notebook: The X-Factor
With no Caleb Wilson for the remainder of the season, it’s up to UNC’s supporting cast to carry the water for the Tar Heels.
Chansky's Notebook: The State of Basketball
As usual, the state of North Carolina will be punching well above its weight in this year's NCAA Tournament.
UNC's Caleb Wilson Named First Team All-ACC, Henri Veesaar Named to Second Team
UNC’s Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar each earned All-ACC honors Monday afternoon. Wilson was named first team All-ACC, while Veesaar received a spot on the second team. Despite playing in just 24 games due to injuries, Wilson still finished as the UNC leader in steals (36), finished second in blocks (33, two behind Veesaar’s 35) […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Women Up to No. 15, Men Down to No. 19
Both the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams made moves in the most recent AP Polls, which were released Monday. The women’s team moved up one spot to No. 15, while the men’s team slipped two spots to No. 19. On the men’s side, the Tar Heels dropped after splitting their final two games of […]
Chansky's Notebook: The Case
UNC and head coach Courtney Banghart will have to wait and see whether they earned a top 4 seed and a host spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Caleb Wilson's Injury Stings for UNC Men's Basketball. Its Lack of Effort vs. Duke Stings Even More.
Whether UNC likes it or not, it will have to navigate the postseason without the services of injured freshman star Caleb Wilson.
›