Michael Malone took over the Tar Heels program on April 7 and reshaped the team into a stronger contender. And now UNC is reportedly exploring another addition – Oregon guard Wei Lin.
According to reports, North Carolina has been in contact with the veteran guard and is looking to add him to the roster ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Andrew Jones of 247Sports reported that UNC has been in contact with Lin, while recruiting analyst David Sisk took a deeper look at the guard’s game amid growing speculation surrounding the Tar Heels’ interest.
Lin is a good option for North Carolina. The 22-year-old guard spent the 2025-26 season at Oregon after playing professional basketball in China.
He averaged 6.6 points and 1.7 assists with 0.9 rebounds per game last season. While these numbers may not seem intriguing right away, his experience and versatility could provide much-needed value for the UNC roster, which is loaded with newcomers.
A Look At UNC Recruiting Ahead of 2026-27 Season
Since arriving in Chapel Hill, Malone has worked aggressively to reshape North Carolina’s roster.
The Tar Heels have already added several players, including Terrence Brown, Matt Able, Neoklis Avdalas, and Cade Bennerman. International prospects are Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov, and highly sought out freshman Maximo Adams.
However, despite those additions, depth in the backcourt still remains an area that needs improvement.
Terrence Brown is expected to run the offense next season, and adding an experienced guard like Lin would give Malone another reliable option off the bench.
While Lin would likely not enter Chapel Hill as a projected starter, he could provide value throughout the season.
The Tar Heels enter the upcoming season facing significant expectations and uncertainty.
After losing many players from last year’s squad to the transfer portal and NBA draft, North Carolina’s ceiling remains a question for everyone. Some believe the Tar Heels have enough talent to compete near the top of the ACC, while others view a Sweet 16 appearance as a realistic best-case scenario.
This uncertainty makes every single remaining roster move important.
Whether Lin ends up in Chapel Hill remains to be seen, but the reported interest signals that Malone isn’t finished building yet, and he is doing his best to uplift the program to the next level.
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Analyst Names One UNC Recruiting Prospect Who Can Become “Big Body Banger” For Mike Malone’s Squad
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