Michael Malone lands third high school recruit for upcoming UNC season

North Carolina added another piece to Michael Malone’s reshaped roster Wednesday, landing a commitment from four-star wing Kevin Thomas.

Thomas, who attended Sagemont Prep in Florida (where he played alongside Matt Able), chose UNC after reopening his recruitment in late March. He was previously committed to LSU, but now the top-100 recruit will give Malone his third high school pledge of the cycle.

Scouts describe Thomas as a twitchy athlete who thrives at getting downhill in transition. He’s not a primary creator, but doesn’t need to be on this North Carolina roster. Instead, he could complement higher-usage guards by moving without the ball and being a constant lob threat.

Thomas joins a growing, layered group of incoming Tar Heels:

• Small forward Maximo Adams, consensus top-25 high school recruit, brings steady scoring punch
• International center Sayon Keita provides size, rim protection and upside
• Four transfers: Terrence Brown (Utah), Able (N.C. State), Neoklis Avdalas (Virginia Tech) and Cade Bennerman (Northwestern) — bring experience in the backcourt and add depth to the frontcourt

Within that mix, Thomas helps fill a gap between the guards and true forwards. UNC lacked wings with length and defensive upside prior to Thomas’ addition, but he should help address that by giving Malone a switchable option who can guard multiple spots with his 6-foot-10 wingspan.

This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 8:27 PM with the headline "Michael Malone lands third high school recruit for upcoming UNC season."