Jersey numbers for 2025-26 roster

UNC basketball released its 2025-26 roster on Aug. 14, setting the stage for the Tar Heels’ fifth season under head coach Hubert Davis.

Of the 16 players on the roster, 11 are newcomers, including six added via the transfer portal. UNC also added three freshmen and an international prospect to surround senior guard Seth Trimble, who will try to get the program back to the top of the ACC.

“I am very excited about this upcoming season and this year’s team, led by Seth Trimble. In college basketball’s current state, Carolina has been fortunate to have multiple accomplished veteran players choose to stay at UNC,” Davis said in a school-issued statement.

“Leaky Black, Armando Bacot, RJ Davis, and now Seth Trimble are difference makers for us. Going into the summer, we wanted to get bigger and more versatile to give us the ability to be better on both ends of the floor, and I believe that we’ve done that.”

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Here’s what stands out about the Tar Heels’ 2025-26 roster.

Hubert Davis says UNC basketball roster is ‘bigger and more versatile’

Hubert Davis is right about UNC getting “bigger and more versatile.” During the 2024-25 season, the Tar Heels had two players that were 6-foot-10 forwards, but 6-foot-8 forward Ven-Allen Lubin was UNC’s most reliable rebounder and option as a post scorer. UNC has six players that are 6-foot-10 or taller on the current roster, including a trio of expected key contributors in Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar, Alabama transfer Jarin Stevenson and five-star freshman Caleb Wilson. Following a poor rebounding season by UNC’s standards, the Tar Heels’ frontcourt should be better equipped to compete on the boards this season.

Seth Trimble gives Tar Heels clear captain, leader

Seth Trimble tested the transfer portal ahead of last season, but chose to stick it out with the Tar Heels. A candid, keep-it-real leader, Trimble returns as UNC’s top player on the perimeter as an on-ball defender and scorer. Described by Hubert Davis as a “difference maker” in a group that includes Leaky Black, Armando Bacot and RJ Davis, Trimble will be key in helping Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans and international prospect Luka Bogavac adjust to life as Tar Heel guards. Evans is a 6-foot-2 guard, but Bogavac is a 6-foot-5 guard/wing and UNC is bigger on the perimeter around Trimble. West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell (6’6), freshman Derek Dixon (6’5), Virginia Tech transfer Jaydon Young (6’4) and freshman Isaiah Denis (6’4) round out UNC’s new-look backcourt.

UNC basketball jersey numbers for 2025-26 roster

Here’s a quick look at the numbers of the 16 players on the UNC basketball team heading into the 2025-26 season.

0 — G Kyan Evans, 6’2, 175 lbs1 — F Zayden High, 6’10, 230 lbs2 — F James Brown, 6’10, 240 lbs3 — G Derek Dixon, 6’5, 200 lbs4 — G Jaydon Young, 6’4, 200 lbs5 — G Isaiah Denis, 6’4, 180 lbs6 — G/F Elijah Davis, 6’3, 205 lbs7 — G Seth Trimble, 6’3, 200 lbs8 — F Caleb Wilson, 6’10, 215 lbs11 — G/F Jonathan Powell, 6’6, 190 lbs13 — C Henri Veesaar, 7’0, 225 lbs15 — F Jarin Stevenson, 6’10, 215 lbs25 — F John Holbrook, 6’8, 230 lbs32 — G Evan Smith, 6’1, 195 lbs40 — C Ivan Matlekovic, N/A44 — G Luka Bogavac, N/A

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.