Last fall, UNC basketball was in the running for Niko Bundalo, a 6-foot-10 senior forward from Prolific Prep (Calif.) and a longtime Tar Heel fan.
He included UNC in both his top nine and final four schools, along with UConn, Michigan State, and Ohio State. But in a surprising twist last November, Bundalo committed to Washington — a program that hadn’t previously been on his shortlist.
Now, his recruitment is open once again. Multiple reports on Tuesday confirmed that Bundalo has been released from his signed commitment to Washington and is back on the market.
Ranked No. 31 nationally in the 2025 class by the 247Sports Composite, Bundalo is now the second-highest ranked uncommitted player in the cycle.
It’s unclear if UNC head coach Hubert Davis will reignite his interest, but Bundalo’s strong connection to the Tar Heels — rooted in his mother’s love for Michael Jordan — could make Chapel Hill a natural destination. UNC still has open scholarship spots for next season.
UNC Basketball Remains in the Running for Elite Forward
Five-star recruit Anthony Thompson is still considering North Carolina, as the standout forward recently revealed his top 15 schools—and the Tar Heels made the list.
Thompson, a small forward from Western Reserve Academy (Ohio), received an offer from UNC head coach Hubert Davis back in January. Nearly four months later, the Tar Heels are still in contention.
On Friday, Thompson announced his top college choices on social media, including UNC alongside programs like BYU, Texas, Xavier, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Georgetown, Indiana, Auburn, Notre Dame, Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan.
The 6-foot-8, 185-pound lefty has trimmed his list after racking up more than 30 scholarship offers early in the 2026 cycle. According to the 247Sports Composite for the class of 2026, he ranks No. 11 overall, No. 3 among small forwards, and holds the top spot in Ohio.
247Sports analyst Eric Bossi praised Thompson’s game, highlighting his silky shooting form and impressive 7-foot-3 wingspan.
UNC continues to be active on the 2026 recruiting trail and remains a serious contender for many of its top targets.
Tar Heels Forward Enters Transfer Portal with Return Still Possible
With the transfer portal deadline approaching, another UNC basketball starter has decided to explore his options.
On Monday morning, forward Ven-Allen Lubin announced he would enter the transfer portal—just two days before the window closes. However, according to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI, Lubin hasn’t ruled out coming back to Chapel Hill for his senior year.
Lubin, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound Florida native, transferred to UNC from Vanderbilt last offseason after starting his college career at Notre Dame. Despite a slow start, he eventually earned a starting role and contributed consistently in the frontcourt. He averaged 8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and nearly a block per game, while shooting 68.4 percent from the field and 71.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Lubin becomes the fifth Tar Heel to enter the portal this offseason, joining Elliot Cadeau, Jalen Washington, Ian Jackson, and Cade Tyson.