Kevin Thomas, a four-star recruit who initially signed with LSU but decommitted in March, has now committed to head coach Michael Malone and UNC.

Thomas, a 6-foot-6 wing from Fort Lauderdale, FL, committed to and signed with LSU last fall. But following the Tigers’ firing of head coach Matt McMahon, Thomas was granted a release from his letter of intent and reopened his recruitment. He arrived in Chapel Hill for a visit Tuesday before committing the next day. 247 Sports ranks Thomas as the No. 79 overall player in the recruiting class of 2026.

“Thomas is a high-level athlete with good size on the wing,” writes Adam Finkelstein, Director of Scouting for 247 Sports. “He’s a dynamic transition finisher who doesn’t just ride-up quickly, but with force. While his leaping ability is his calling card, he’s not unskilled. He’s an improved shooter, who can now make open shots to the arc when he has room and rhythm, but gets streaky when he falls forward into his shot or lets his left shoulder dip.”

Notably, Thomas was teammates with UNC transfer portal commit Matt Able at Fort Lauderdale’s Sagemont Prep. While Able has signed the paperwork to be a Tar Heel next season, the rising sophomore wing is still participating in the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. Players who wish to retain college eligibility have until May 27 to remove their names from the NBA Draft.

Thomas is the third incoming true freshman who will be joining the Tar Heels for the 2026-27 season. He joins forward Maximo Adams and guard Malloy Smith. For a full list of the newcomers joining UNC next season, click here.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Men's Basketball Facing NC State in Non-Conference Matchup at Greensboro Coliseum
UNC will face NC State in a non-conference matchup at Greensboro’s First Horizon Coliseum Tuesday, Dec. 15. The coliseum confirmed the game, dubbed the “Old Dominion Freight Line Tobacco Road Classic,” with an announcement Wednesday. A tip-off time is yet to be announced, and tickets will go on sale Sep. 10 on the coliseum website. […]
Chansky's Notebook: Setting the Expectations
In his first public comments since April, UNC head coach Michael Malone laid out his expectations for Year 1 and beyond in Chapel Hill.
Chansky's Notebook: The Five Stages
Chapelboro's Michael Koh breaks down the stunning news of Seth Trimble's commitment to Louisville via the transfer portal.
Seth Trimble Returns to College Ball Under New Rules; Transferring to Louisville
When Seth Trimble entered the transfer portal after his sophomore season, he tested the waters before ultimately returning to UNC men’s basketball. Fans rejoiced, cheering on the opportunity to see an up-and-coming player keep developing into a star for the Tar Heels. Across the following two seasons, Trimble, the younger brother of former Tar Heel […]
UNC Men's Basketball to Face USC in Preseason Exhibition in Greensboro
The unofficial debut of UNC’s Michael Malone era will come in the Tar Heels’ home away from home. UNC will face USC in a preseason exhibition at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro (better known as the Greensboro Coliseum) Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. Though neither program has announced the game, the Coliseum’s website has […]
Granted Extra Year, South Dakota Center Cameron Fens Commits to UNC Men's Basketball
Seven-foot center Cameron Fens, who had exhausted his collegiate eligibility until a recent court ruling granted him and other graduating athletes one more season, committed to UNC Friday afternoon. View this post on Instagram Fens, originally from Dubuque, IA, graduated high school in 2022. He began his career with Illinois-Chicago in the Missouri Valley Conference […]
Freshmen, Transfers and More: Every Newcomer Joining UNC Men's Basketball for the 2026-27 Season
As Michael Malone embarks on his first season as the head coach of the UNC men’s basketball program, he’s gotten busy securing the additions of several newcomers to the program. Malone and his staff have mined from traditional high school recruiting and the transfer portal to fill out Carolina’s roster, and that work is continuing […]
UNC Men's Basketball to Face West Virginia in 2026 Dick Vitale Invitational
Another key non-conference date for UNC’s 2026-27 season has been set. The Tar Heels will face West Virginia in the second annual Dick Vitale Invitational, which will be played Friday, Nov. 27 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. A tip-off time will be announced later. See you in Charlotte 📍⤵️ 🔗 https://t.co/ybKYYmj1sS pic.twitter.com/yY3vUw2JKc — Carolina […]
Report: Longtime Gonzaga Assistant Jorge Sanz to Join UNC Men's Basketball Staff
According to a report from Theo Lawson of the Spokane Spokesman-Review, longtime Gonzaga assistant Jorge Sanz is set to join UNC head coach Michael Malone’s staff in Chapel Hill. Longtime Gonzaga assistant/Director of Operations Jorge Sanz is moving on to North Carolina after eight seasons in Spokane, where he was integral to the program's nonconference […]
Chansky's Notebook: The Cost of Business
Carolina has released its salary structure for the 2026-27 men’s basketball season, and right now it has to be a game of wait and see. Mike Malone is making $7.5 million in his first college head coaching season and his new top assistant Chuck Martin is making $500,000. Here is where it gets interesting. The […]
›