The UNC men’s basketball program announced Friday that James Brown’s sophomore season is officially over.

During head coach Hubert Davis’ media availability, the program shared the 6-foot-10 center underwent foot surgery this week that will sideline him for the rest of the year. Brown last saw in-game action during Carolina’s win over East Carolina on Dec. 22 after playing sparingly in eight other non-conference games and had been listed in the team’s injury report regularly during ACC play.

Brown totaled only 11 points and 13 rebounds in the 2025-26 season, with UNC’s Nov. 11 win over Radford being when he tallied his most minutes played (8), points (4) and rebounds (3). During his freshman season with the Tar Heels, the Aurora, Ill. product appeared in 18 games while averaging 2.9 minutes and 1.2 points.

Despite functioning mostly as a reserve player, Brown’s injury status holds more importance with the No. 16 Tar Heels’ facing other injuries to its front court. Star freshman Caleb Wilson suffered a broken bone in his left hand during a Feb. 10 loss at Miami, while center Henri Veesaar has also sat out since that road loss with a “lower extremity” injury. Coupled with sophomore center and reserve Ivan Matlekovic also being injured, UNC has just two healthy forwards on the roster: junior Jarin Stevenson and redshirt sophomore Zayden High, who have started the last two games. Carolina split those contests, beating Pitt 79-65 at home before losing to N.C. State in Raleigh, 82-58.

UNC men’s basketball (20-6, 8-5) is next in action on Saturday, as the Tar Heels travel to face Syracuse at 1 p.m.

Featured photo by Todd Melet/Chapel Hill Media Group.

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