Michael Malone might be about to get a hold of the top small forward available in the transfer portal this offseason. According to Insider Carolina, part of the North Carolina Tar Heels staff is in California, alongside Henri Veesaar, trying to secure a commitment from Wake Forest’s Juke Harris. They also seem to be courting NC State’s Matt Able.
Harris is a four-star recruit from the Demon Deacons and is considered the seventh-best available player in the transfer portal this month. Harris is coming off a breakthrough sophomore season at Wake Forest, in which he earned a Second Team All-ACC selection and was named the ACC Most Improved Player of the 2025-26 season.
Harris averaged 21.5 points (16th in the nation), 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage was 44.4%. He would be an incredible piece around which Michael Malone could start to build a new roster. His elite scoring ability alone makes the transfer worth it, and he has yet to hit his developmental ceiling.
What is Michael Malone Looking For in New Players for UNC?
Something that surprised, and maybe worried, some fans when it was announced that Michael Malone was joining the North Carolina Tar Heels is the fact that the school was going with a person better known for his NBA work. This is, in fact, Malone’s first-ever college head coaching job, and his first college coaching job since 2001.
However, Malone has made it clear that there’s little difference for him. He thinks it’s all about the winning culture and the work ethic of those in the team. And that’s what he’s looking for in new players: work ethic and hunger for success.
“When I think about the culture that we’re going to create here, (it’s the) same culture we had in Denver, because it doesn’t matter (whether it’s the) NBA or college, you can have a strong culture,” Malone said on April 6 at his introductory press conference.
“That’s going to start with being a team that outworks people (and is) self-motivated. I want to surround myself with players (who) have that kind of work ethic. I shouldn’t have to go to practice and try to motivate you every day.”
Juke Harris seems like the kind of player to fit this profile. Whether or not he moves to Chapel Hill remains to be seen.
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