UNC Reportedly in Talks With SEC Portal Center

The Tar Heels are making all the stops in their pursuit of a frontcourt depth piece.

Mar 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

If there is one area on the North Carolina Tar Heels' roster that remains a major question mark heading into next season, it is the frontcourt rotation, specifically at the center position.

North Carolina's starting center spot is etched in stone, with Sayon Keita presumably locking that down. However, the depth behind the overseas talent and five-star recruit is incredibly shallow. Northwestern transfer Cade Bennerman is the only other prototypical center on the roster, and he redshirted his freshman season in 2025.

Jan 28, 2025; Spokane, Washington, USA; Oregon State Beavers head coach Wayne Tinkle, right talks with Oregon State Beavers forward Maxim Logue (77) during a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images | James Snook-Imagn Images

If Maxim Logue, who originally transferred from Florida Atlantic to North Carolina this offseason, had not withdrawn from the program, I would feel a lot more comfortable about this situation. In fact, I don't believe head coach Michael Malone would be pursuing other center options overseas if he knew he had this three-man center rotation in place. However, the 54-year-old coach correctly assesses that he needs one more piece in the frontcourt to cement this roster.

That said, it appears that Malone's answer to this problem does not only apply to European talent, as North Carolina is currently in talks with a center in the SEC.

Who Are the Tar Heels Speaking With?

Feb 14, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators center Micah Handlogten (3) posts up against Kentucky Wildcats forward Brandon Garrison (10) during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Reports surfaced this week that North Carolina has reached out to Florida Gators' center Micah Handlogten in the transfer portal. The 7-foot-1 senior center is from Huntersville, North Carolina, and is awaiting the NCAA's ruling on a medical redshirt waiver he submitted in hopes of giving him one more year of eligibility.

In 34 games this past season, Handlogten averaged 4.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per contest. The veteran big man would be entering a similar situation, as he played behind Rueben Chinyelu, who earned the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year in 2025.

Why This Would Be a Good Addition?

Florida center Micah Handlogten (3) passes against Kentucky during their quarterfinal game of the 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 13, 2026. | DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Tar Heels are in desperate need of rotational players in the frontcourt, and not only would acquiring Handlogten solve that problem, but his experience would be monumental in that locker room. Keita and Bennerman are both extremely young and raw players, with plenty of room to grow in their games.

Having a veteran leader, such as Handlogten, would do wonders for those individuals, especially Keita, who will be shouldering plenty of responsibilities and expectations as the starting center. Right now, Malone is working around the clock to sign at least one more center in hopes of bolstering a frontcourt rotation lacking significant depth.