The North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team is on the verge of adding a 20-year-old FIBA star

The North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team is on the verge of adding a 20-year-old FIBA star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The North Carolina Tar Heels haven’t made it official yet, but it’s very likely that the announcement for Panathinaikos B.C. big man Alexandros Samodurov’s commitment is coming any day now.

Per Keepin’ It Heel’s Nick Delahanty on Thursday night, “According to sources close to the situation, the news of Samodurov committing to North Carolina is a bit premature. Nothing (as of this post) has been finalized in regard to this potential pairing. Of course, as we all know, the world of recruiting does change rapidly at times, so it is possible that the official news is coming, but it just hasn't happened just yet.”

New UNC head coach Michael Malone’s biggest offseason goal is to find an adequate replacement for Henri Veesaar, who has decided to remain in the 2026 NBA draft after declaring last month. Sayon Keita was signed in late April, and while he provides a strong traditional two-way rim-runner, Samodurov has interesting potential as a shooter.

Malone’s offenses benefited from Nikola Jokic’s playmaking with the Denver Nuggets, but collegiate defenses will be easier to scheme against. Christian Braun and Peyton Watson’s development gives one hope in the event that Samodurov commits.