North Carolina basketball enters a new era with a roster that mirrors the NBA’s latest championship blueprint. Head coach Hubert Davis has assembled a collection of versatile players that has one analyst drawing comparisons to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s title-winning formula.
With five transfers, one international recruit, and three freshmen joining lone returning player Seth Trimble, the Tar Heels are positioned to embrace a modern, positionless approach that could transform their identity on the court.
Analyst Asks for More Positionless Basketball From North Carolina
College basketball analyst Pac Kilby sees striking similarities between Davis’s roster construction and that of the recently crowned NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Locked On Tar Heels podcast, Kilby outlined why UNC should pursue a similar strategy:
“They [OKC] have that positionless style, they have length everywhere, one possession it might be SGA [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] bringing it up, the next it could be JDub [Jalen Williams], the next it could be Caruso, the next it could be Wallace.”
“I could see Carolina adopting a similar strategy. Kyan Evans, who we project to be the starting point guard for North Carolina, he’s really kind of a combo guard for being honest about it.”
“The way we’ve changed our roster, I think there’s a world where we go heavy on the length and play more of a positionless basketball and it’s more free flowing.”
Evans arrived at UNC via the 2025 transfer portal from Colorado State, where he emerged as a standout player last season. With the Rams, he averaged 10.6 points and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 44.6% from beyond the arc in 2024-2025.
Beyond simply emulating OKC with Evans in the Gilgeous-Alexander role, Kilby urged Davis to implement a more sophisticated offensive system.
“Let’s play more of a conceptual style of basketball concepts, creating advantages for ourselves and then keeping the advantage after we’ve created an advantage,” Kilby explained.
“The Thunder are some of the best at that…I think there’s some similarities in the roster build that could work well for Carolina if we adopt similar strategies.”
Building a Modern Roster Through the Portal and Beyond
The comparison to Oklahoma City gains credibility when examining the diverse skill sets Davis has accumulated. The Tar Heels have prioritized length, versatility, and basketball IQ in their roster construction, bringing in players who can handle multiple positions and responsibilities.
As of the time of publish (June 28), North Carolina’s 2025-26 confirmed roster reflects this philosophy through its composition: five players from the transfer portal, one international recruit, three high school recruits, and only one returning player.
Transfers In
- Kyan Evans (from Colorado State)
- Henri Veesaar (from Arizona)
- Jarin Stevenson (from Alabama)
- Jonathan Powell (from West Virginia)
- Jaydon Young (from Virginia Tech)
International Recruit
- Luka Bogavac (from Montenegro’s ABA League)
High School Recruits
- Caleb Wilson
- Isaiah Denis
- Derek Dixon
Returning Player
This roster construction represents a significant departure from traditional college basketball team building, emphasizing adaptability over rigid positional roles.
With players ranging from the 6-foot-3 Evans to the 7-foot Veesaar, Davis has assembled a group capable of matching up with various opponent styles while maintaining the flexibility to create mismatches on offense.
