April 26, 2026, 9:01 a.m. ET

North Carolina’s basketball roster will look different for the 2026-27 season as they prepare for the first year under new head coach Michael Malone.

The Tar Heels have lost some key players to the transfer portal but have also been able to land some talent, mainly in the backcourt. However, the latest news comes on Saturday as former center James Brown has found a new home.

Brown officially committed to Howard just a few weeks after he entered the transfer portal. He spent two seasons with North Carolina, committing to the program as part of the 2024 class.

The Aurora, Illinois native appeared in 18 games during the 2024-25 season. Last season, he appeared in just nine games before suffering an injury that cost him the rest of his season. He did opt to return this past season instead of portaling, hoping to develop and earn a role in the future.

However, with the coaching change, and the injury, it was a better decision to leave.

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