UNC's newest commitment has ties to program

TL;DR

North Carolina has secured a commitment from Kevin Thomas, a 6-foot-7, four-star small forward from Florida, ranked No. 79 nationally. He has ties to the program through Kenny Smith and could reunite with teammate Matt Able at UNC.

Key points

Kevin Thomas is a four-star small forward from Florida
He is ranked No. 79 nationally and No. 32 at his position
Thomas has ties to UNC through Kenny Smith and K.J. Smith
He may reunite with teammate Matt Able at UNC

Mentioned in this story

North CarolinaKenny Smith

Kevin ThomasK.J. SmithMatt Able

North Carolina strengthened itsperimetert Wednesday by landing Kevin Thomas, a 6-foot-7, four-star small forward from Florida who is ranked No. 79 nationally, No. 32 at his position and No. 13 in the state.

Thomas will be new to Chapel Hill, but he will not arrive alone.

He spent several years playing for Jet Academy on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit, a program founded and run by former Tar Heels All-American guard and longtime NBA analyst Kenny “The Jet” Smith. Smith’s son, K.J. Smith, who played at North Carolina from 2017-21, now represents Thomas as his agent.

Thomas could also reunite with a familiar teammate in transfer wing Matt Able, who has entered the 2026 NBA Draft but has signed with UNC if he withdraws by the May 27 deadline. Thomas and Able won two state titles together at Sagemont Preparatory School in Weston, Florida, and both are Fort Lauderdale natives, adding another layer of familiarity to Thomas’ move to the ACC power.

Thomas requested a release from his LSU letter of intent in late March after the Tigers fired coach Matt McMahon, reopening his recruitment before committing to the Tar Heels.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Deep connections may have helped Tar Heels land latest commitment

Q&A

Who is Kevin Thomas and what are his rankings?

Kevin Thomas is a 6-foot-7, four-star small forward from Florida, ranked No. 79 nationally and No. 32 at his position.

What connections does Kevin Thomas have to UNC?

Kevin Thomas has ties to UNC through Kenny Smith, who founded the Jet Academy where Thomas played, and through his agent, K.J. Smith, who is Kenny's son and a former UNC player.

Is Matt Able also joining UNC and what is his connection to Kevin Thomas?

Yes, Matt Able has signed with UNC and has a connection to Kevin Thomas as they were teammates at Sagemont Preparatory School, winning two state titles together.