Tar Heel With Most To Prove in Malone’s First Season

Among the returners for North Carolina this season, Jarin Stevenson is being put in an interesting spot.

He’s the only returner who saw significant playing time all season and is now expected to be a leader in the frontcourt. As he heads into his fourth season in college basketball, he has a major opportunity to prove he can handle the extended responsibility he should gain.

Throughout the back half of the season, Stevenson helped calm the waters for the injury-riddled Tar Heels, as both Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar had been dealing with injuries. Safe to say, Stevenson rose to the occasion and filled in nicely for Wilson, especially once he was sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Stevenson averaged his career-best at North Carolina, with 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and shooting 47% from the field. He started in 25 of 33 games for the Tar Heels last season and is expected to be in the permanent starting rotation once this upcoming season kicks off.

Stevenson Was a Priority for Malone

According to reports via Inside Carolina, Stevenson was a priority for Michael Malone to retain, and he met with him upon taking the head coaching job to persuade Stevenson to return.

Stevenson showed Tar Heels fans in many games the value he can bring to this team. When Caleb Wilson went down, Stevenson’s production jumped, as he averaged double-digit points and shot 50% from the field.

Apr 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacts in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

That small stretch of games may give Heels fans a good enough sample size to get an idea of what to expect. Granted, a Hubert Davis-styled team may look drastically different than a Michael Malone-led team.

Stevenson Must Be a Leader on This Team

With Steveneson propelled into a leadership role on this North Carolina team, he’ll have plenty to prove in 2026. Not only will he have to show that he can excel in a starting role from start to finish, but he will also have to prove to Michael Malone that he made the right decision by prioritizing his return.

Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jarin Stevenson (15) dribbles against VCU Rams forward Jadrian Tracey (2) in the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As he enters his fourth college basketball season, the developmental excuse has run out. Stevenson has played plenty of college basketball to date, and we should see his production rise compared to last year.

We saw flashes of what he can do in a starting role, but now it’s time for him to prove himself right and be a true leader for this Tar Heels team.

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