The college basketball transfer portal has been open for less than two weeks, yet several players have already committed to new schools.
Elliot Cadeau, who played point guard for North Carolina over the past two seasons, pledged to Michigan just a week after entering the portal. Donovan Dent, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year and a 20-point scorer, decided on UCLA after previously engaging with UNC.
One of North Carolina’s biggest needs in the portal is a big man to pair with incoming 5-star power forward Caleb Wilson in the frontcourt.
Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, they are no longer in the running for 7-foot center Noah Williamson. After earlier reports suggested North Carolina was targeting him, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year chose Alabama.
This situation might sound familiar: 6’11” center Cliff Omoruyi, who spent his first four years at Rutgers, selected Alabama just three days after visiting UNC during the 2024 offseason.
Williamson, who posted career-high averages of 17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game for Bucknell in the 2024-2025 season, is a versatile player. He can hit threes (31.8% last season) but can also dominate in the paint with his size.
For North Carolina, the focus isn’t necessarily on the type of big man they land from the portal, but on securing a commitment. While they missed out on top-tier talent in 2024, they saw a late-season breakout from Ven-Allen Lubin, helping them secure a spot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
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