UNC Basketball Staff Eyeing Russian Wing for 2025-26 Tar Heel Roster

The UNC basketball coaches may opt for the international route to put the finishing touches on next season's team.

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

UNC basketball has 11 scholarship players on tap for next season. With a couple of openings left to fill, fifth-year head coach Hubert Davis and his crew are now showing interest in Russian-born German prospect Ivan Kharchenkov, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI confirmed.

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He's a 6-foot-6, 220-pound chiseled wing who is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential as a formidable slasher and silky outside shooter.

Currently on a multi-year deal with Bayern Munich and beginning to see more minutes against top-shelf international players, the 18-year-old Kharchenkov displayed his versatile perimeter game as recently as a win on Sunday. He tallied 17 points, five rebounds, and four steals in 22 minutes of action, shooting 7-for-9 from the field, 1-for-2 beyond the arc, and 2-for-6 at the foul line.

🇩🇪 German prospect Ivan Kharchenkov today for Bayern Munich in the win over Gottingen

17 points
5 boards
4 steals
7-9 FG
1-2 3P
2-6 FT

22 minutes

The 6’6 wing has had a solid season in limited minutes for Bayern Munich, as a slasher and shooter on the wing. pic.twitter.com/ZbdOgDQSHE

— nbadraftpoint (@nbadraftpoint) May 4, 2025

Meanwhile, across several sites, UNC basketball still sits outside the projected top 25 for the 2025-26 season despite compiling a five-deep transfer haul that ranks No. 17 in the country, per 247Sports.

Outside of incoming five-star freshman forward Caleb Wilson, the Tar Heels lack full-fledged star power in the eyes of many experts. Perhaps Ivan Kharchenkov could help provide an answer to that perceived deficiency.

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball offseason news.