UNC basketball isn’t getting Bryson Howard, who committed to Duke on Oct. 21, so what’s next for the Tar Heels?
Howard, a 6-foot-5 guard and the 12th-ranked player in the Class of 2026 according to 247Sports, picked the Blue Devils over UNC and Kentucky.
Advertisement
The son of Josh Howard, an ACC Player of the Year at Wake Forest and former NBA All-Star, Bryson is a lefty known for his elite shooting stroke and incredible 6-foot-11 wingspan. With Bryson out of the picture for the Tar Heels, UNC is still searching for its first commitment in the 2026 class.
UNC GAME CONTRACTS: How much UNC basketball will pay, receive for nonconference games in 2025-26 season
UNC SCHEDULE: UNC basketball schedule: Important, sneaky, toughest games for Tar Heels in 2025-26
Here’s a breakdown of some of the 2026 players UNC who have shown interest in the Tar Heels and what the roster could look like next season. As of Oct. 21, UNC has extended scholarship offers to 16 players, according to 247Sports.
Advertisement
Maximo Adams, Cameron Holmes, Deron Rippey among recruits to visit UNC
Deron Rippey Jr., Cameron Holmes and Maximo Adams are among the recruits who have visited UNC or have plans to visit Chapel Hill. Adams, a five-star wing and the No. 23 recruit nationally per the 247Sports Composite, is scheduled to arrive at UNC on Halloween weekend.
Duke, Kansas, Texas and Michigan State are among the other programs pursuing Adams, but Southern Cal is the current favorite according to On3’s projections. Holmes, a 6-foot-6 wing and the 33rd-ranked prospect in the 247Sports Composite, visited UNC on Sept. 19, but CBSSports experts project the Arizona native to stay put and play for the Wildcats.
Rippey is a 6-foot-2 guard and the 11th-ranked player in the 247Sports Composite, with offers from Duke, N.C. State, Kentucky, Syracuse and Tennessee, among others. Rippey visited UNC on Aug. 31. According to On3’s projections, Rippey is likely to end up at Syracuse or Rutgers.
Advertisement
Despite the slow roll on the recruiting trail, UNC’s current roster presents the program with options for next season.
Seth Trimble will be gone, Caleb Wilson likely to be in NBA, but UNC has roster options
Of the current players on UNC’s 2025-26 roster, only senior guard Seth Trimble is a lock to not be with the Tar Heels next season. Freshman forward Caleb Wilson is likely to join that list as a player projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Outside of those two players, UNC is positioned to return the rest of the players expected to be key contributors for this year’s team. That group includes Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar (redshirt junior), Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans (junior), Alabama transfer Jarin Stevenson (junior), West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell (sophomore), Virginia Tech transfer Jaydon Young (junior) and international prospect Luka Bogavac (junior).
Advertisement
Sometimes the best options are the ones you’re able to keep on your roster. If the group works out this season, UNC might not need to add much via the 2026 recruiting class. That would allow the Tar Heels to fill in the gaps through the transfer portal. Either way, it’s way too early for UNC or its fans to panic about the 2026-27 roster.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball recruiting outlook after Bryson Howard commits to Duke
