Head coach Hubert Davis and the UNC men’s basketball program have finalized the team’s roster and jersey numbers ahead of the 2025-26 season. The Tar Heels bring in numerous newcomers between freshmen and transfers after losing all five of their year-end starters from the 2024-25 season.
One familiar face will be senior guard Seth Trimble, who will keep his No. 7 jersey for the 2025-26 season. Trimble has played in 102 games across three years in Chapel Hill and is coming off a career-best season as a junior, during which he averaged 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
“I am very excited about this upcoming season and this year’s team, led by Seth Trimble,” says Hubert Davis, who is entering his fifth season as UNC’s head coach. “In college basketball’s current state, Carolina has been fortunate to have multiple accomplished veteran players choose to stay at UNC. Players like Leaky Black, Armando Bacot, R.J. Davis and now Seth Trimble are difference makers for us.”
Four other returners join Trimble on the team: senior guard Elijah Davis (son of Hubert Davis) will wear No. 6, sophomore forward James Brown will wear No. 2, sophomore forward John Holbrook will wear No. 25 and redshirt sophomore Zayden High will wear No. 1. High is returning to the program after sitting out the entire 2024-25 season. Though the program did not specify the reason for High’s absence, an investigation by the News & Observer revealed High was charged with sexual misconduct after filming an encounter with another student without her consent.
Evan Smith joins the team after playing for UNC’s junior varsity team last season. The Charlotte native will wear jersey No. 32.
UNC brings in three incoming freshmen, including five-star forward Caleb Wilson from Atlanta. Wilson is ranked as the No. 8 overall player in his class by 247 Sports, was named the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year in Georgia and will wear the No. 8 jersey. He’s joined by win Derek Dixon, the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year from the District of Columbia who will wear No. 8, and in-state guard Isaiah Denis from Davidson, N.C., who will wear No. 5.
A host of transfers joins the Tar Heels. Guard Kyan Evans arrives from Colorado State after leading the Rams to the NCAA Tournament in 2025 and will wear No. 0. Alabama transfer and Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson returns to his hometown after two seasons with the Crimson Tide and will wear No. 15. From West Virginia, sharpshooting wing Jonathan Powell will wear No. 11, Virginia Tech transfer Jaydon Young will wear No. 4 and High Point transfer Ivan Matlekovic will wear No. 40. In the frontcourt, center Henri Veesaar from Arizona will wear No. 13.
Additionally, UNC brings in an international talent in Montenegrin Luka Bogavac. Bogavac has professional experience overseas, averaging 14.9 points per game in 29 games in the Adriatic Basketball Association last season.
“Going into the summer, we wanted to get bigger and more versatile to give us the ability to be better on both ends of the floor,” Hubert Davis said of his new additions, “and I believe we’ve done that.”
Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward
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