NBC Sports announced its Preseason All-Americans on Tuesday for the upcoming men’s basketball season, naming UNC senior forward Luke Maye as a First Team selection and Tar Heel freshman Nassir Little as a member of the Fourth Team.

Maye, who was a Third Team All-American and First Team All-ACC selection last year, is the Tar Heels’ top returning player and is widely expected to carry the load for head coach Roy Williams in the early going.

Joining him on NBC’s Preseason First Team All-American list is a group that includes: Duke freshman R.J. Barrett, Purdue’s Carsen Edwards, Gonzaga’s Rui Hatchimura and Kansas’s Dedric Lawson.

Little, meanwhile, is expected to have a breakout campaign in what could be his only year in college.

The first high school player since LeBron James to win the MVP at both the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, Little should quickly become a fan favorite in Chapel Hill as his star potential becomes more apparent.

He was joined on the All-American Fourth Team by Kyle Guy (Virginia), Kellan Grady (Davidson), P.J. Washington (Kentucky) and Dean Wade (Kansas State).  

UNC also officially opened practice on Wednesday, and will begin its regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 6 on the road at Wofford–a team that pulled a shocking upset against the Tar Heels last year in Chapel Hill.

 

 

 

Photo via Todd Melet

Related Stories
‹
NBC Sports Names Cole Anthony a Preseason Second Team All-American
UNC freshman point guard Cole Anthony was named Tuesday as a Preseason Second Team All-American by NBC Sports, as the beginning of college basketball season continues to inch ever so closer. The No. 4 incoming recruit in the country regardless of position according to 24/7 Sports, Anthony is expected to step right into the Tar […]
Joel Berry Named Third Team Preseason All-American by NBC Sports
Fresh off a run to the national championship–one in which he was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player–UNC senior point guard Joel Berry was selected as a Preseason Third Team All-American by NBC Sports. Over the last two years with Berry starting in the backcourt, UNC has compiled a 66-14 record, won a national […]
The Morning News: CHCCS Bus Issue, Chapel Hill Poet Laureate Search, UNC Men's Basketball Schedule
In today's news: UNC scholars study the impact of the CHCCS bus snafu on families, and Chapel Hill seeks a new poet laureate.
UNC Men's Basketball Releases 2026-27 ACC Schedule
The ACC revealed the men’s basketball league schedule for the 2026-27 season Wednesday afternoon. UNC’s league games begin Dec. 30 and end March 6. Mark your calendars 📅 pic.twitter.com/BXaZ7OHdJd — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 9, 2026 The Tar Heels will begin conference play by hosting Cal at the Smith Center Wednesday, Dec. 30. Carolina is […]
The Morning News: Orange County Honors Jamezetta Bedford, Michael Lombardi Resigns
In today's news: Orange County names its new crisis diversion facility after the late County Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford.
Michael Malone Announces Full UNC Men's Basketball Coaching Staff
Michael Malone and the UNC men’s basketball program have officially announced the full coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, Malone’s first as head coach of the Tar Heels. Official. pic.twitter.com/KmX5Ct793x — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 3, 2026 The staff features three holdovers from former head coach Hubert Davis’ staff: Sean May and Pat Sullivan will […]
'Something Much Bigger than Myself': Highlights from Michael Malone's Sep. 3 Press Conference
UNC men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone met with the media at the Dean Smith Center Thursday morning. In his comments, Malone addressed eligibility issues around center Cameron Fens, the shifting legal landscape around college sports, his coaching style and more. Read highlights from the press conference, which have been lightly edited for clarity, below: […]
UNC's Cameron Fens Now Ineligible After Tennessee Court Ruling
Cameron Fens, a seven-foot center who transferred to UNC from South Dakota earlier in August, is now ineligible to play for the Tar Heels in the 2026-27 season after ruling from the Tennessee Court of Appeals Wednesday. The court has issued a stay on the injunction granted to several athletes – Fens included – who […]
Full 2026-27 Roster, Jersey Numbers Announced for UNC Men's Basketball
The UNC men’s basketball program has announced its full roster, complete with jersey numbers, for the 2026-27 season, the team’s first under head coach Michael Malone. The squad is set 🔒 pic.twitter.com/oQ3cJfS4iH — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) August 21, 2026 The roster features six players from the 2025-26 team: senior forward Jarin Stevenson, senior guard Jaydon Young, senior […]
The NCAA Has Won a Victory in the Class of 2022 Debate. What Does it Mean for UNC?
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit granted a stay in the case of Wisne v. NCAA, temporarily putting on hold an injunction which had allowed student-athletes from the high school class of 2022 to play a fifth collegiate season this year. This ruling means players such as UNC kicker Rece Verhoff […]
›