The Michael Malone coaching era is underway in Chapel Hill, and the newly-hired head coach is hitting the transfer portal hard.
Malone and the North Carolina Tar Heels are in contact with Alabama Crimson Tide transfer Aiden Sherrell, according to a report from 247Sports.
Sherrell is one of the most highly-touted options in the transfer portal, ranking as the No. 3 power forward and No. 10 overall player in the class, according to 247Sports’ rankings.
Sherrell would fill the Tar Heels’ power forward void left by the departure of freshman phenom Caleb Wilson, who will go off the board as one of the top picks in the upcoming NBA draft. The 6-10 big man averaged 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in his sophomore season with Alabama, taking a massive leap from his freshman season as four-star recruit out of California.
While it’s nearly impossible to replace the All-American production Wilson achieved in 2025-26, Sherrell would be an excellent addition for Malone’s UNC squad.
Sherrell entered the NCAA transfer portal with a Do Not Contact tag on Thursday, just a couple weeks after Alabama lost to the eventual-champion Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16.
Sherrell is scheduled to meet with both Baylor head coach Scott Drew and Providence head coach Bryan Hodgson on Friday, according to college basketball insider Adam Zagoria. The Alabama transfer is also scheduled to meet with the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday, according to On3 Sports.
Arkansas and Indiana are also reportedly in the mix to pursue Sherrell.
Seven UNC players entered the transfer portal: Isaiah Dennis, Jaydon Young, Derek Dixon, Jonathan Powell, Kyan Evans, Zayden High and James Brown. Luka Bogavac is expected to return to Chapel Hill in 2026-27, and star center Henri Veesaar could return for another season if he forgoes the NBA draft.
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