UNC's Malone Secures Avdalas Transfer, Hires English

North Carolina's new men's basketball coach, Michael Malone, wasted little time reshaping the Tar Heels roster and staff after his surprising appointment earlier this month. The former Denver Nuggets head coach, who led that team to the 2023 NBA championship, secured his first major transfer portal commitment on Monday when Virginia Tech freshman Neoklis Avdalas pledged to join UNC. The 6-foot-9 guard from Greece, ranked among the top available players in the portal, averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds last season for the Hokies.

Avdalas, who drew interest from programs including Kentucky, Arkansas and Michigan, showed flashes of potential in his debut year, including a 33-point, six-assist performance against Providence in November. However, his efficiency waned over time, with field-goal shooting at 38.6 percent overall and 31.4 percent from three-point range. Analysts noted his strengths as a playmaker in pick-and-roll situations, where he excelled at passing out of drives, and his size could allow him to play as an oversized guard in Malone's system. Virginia Tech outscored opponents by 7.6 points per 100 possessions with Avdalas on the floor, according to...