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 […]
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 […]
UNC Men's Basketball Fizzles in ACC Tournament, Raising Coaching Staff Questions – Mar. 13, 2026
The Hill's Deborah Stroman and Brighton McConnell chat on Friday, Mar. 13 following UNC men's basketball's 80-79 loss in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday night.
Chansky's Notebook: One-and-Done in Charlotte
UNC men's basketball went one-and-done at the ACC’s crown-jewel event this year, bucking program history and raising postseason questions.
'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.
›