Michael Malone adds son of famed UNC alum, NBA champion to roster next year

TL;DR

Michael Malone has added Malloy Smith, son of NBA champion Kenny Smith, to the UNC Tar Heels roster for next year. This move highlights Malone's commitment to building a strong team as he transitions to college coaching.

Key points

Michael Malone is the new head coach of UNC Tar Heels basketball.
Malloy Smith, son of Kenny Smith, will join the roster next year.
Kenny Smith played a key role in Malone's hiring at UNC.

Mentioned in this story

Michael MaloneKenny SmithMalloy SmithUNC Tar Heels

Michael Malone adds son of famed UNC alum, NBA champion to roster next year originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When Michael Malone was announced as the next head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program, there was one name he mentioned a few different times. While Kenny Smith wasn't initially viewed as being the insider to get the NBA champion coach to Chapel Hill, "The Jet" played a critical role in making it happen.

The former ESPN co-worker of Malone set him on the right track, and opened the door many thought was open for a few others with less experience. However, UNC got the right coach at the right time, who hasn't been out of the NBA for an extended period of time.

Malone has already hit the ground running and making the best of his opportunity. UNC is the only campus in America with both a Super Bowl-winning coach in Bill Belichick and an NBA Championship-winning coach in Malone. This shows the Tar Heels athletic department is taking the right step to further prepare for the depths of the NIL era.

As for Smith, the UNC legend focuses on his analyst role on Inside The NBA, but will be around the program with his son, Malloy, reaffirming his commitment this week. The original recruit, under Hubert Davis, will stay put with Malone now establishing his roots in the college game.

More:UNC Tar Heels Basketball transfer portal tracker live updates, news on commits

Smith, a 6-foot-5 combo guard from Mater Dei in Santa Ana (Calif.), is the second recruit on the books for next year. He joins four-star small forward Maximo Adams, who is ranked as the No. 22 player in the nation. Five-star point guard Dylan Mingo was recently dropped by Malone, who reportedly tried to redshirt the blue-chip after an undisclosed injury.

Overall, this has been a good transition period for UNC with Malone getting his final roster together. Trust the process and know it's not going to happen overnight.

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Q&A

Who is Malloy Smith and what is his connection to UNC?

Malloy Smith is the son of NBA champion Kenny Smith and will be joining the UNC Tar Heels basketball team next year.

What role did Kenny Smith play in Michael Malone's hiring at UNC?

Kenny Smith helped facilitate Michael Malone's hiring as the head coach of the UNC Tar Heels, leveraging his connections and experience.

What does Michael Malone's hiring mean for the UNC basketball program?

Michael Malone's hiring signifies a strategic move for UNC to enhance its competitiveness in the NIL era, alongside having a Super Bowl-winning coach on campus.