New UNC coach Michael Malone has secured his greatest commitment through the transfer portal. After his initial visit to Chapel Hill, it appeared like Brown would be a lock with UNC. However, both Kansas and Kentucky pushed for his commitment, leaving Tar Heel supporters to wonder whether this would be another portal loss.
He eventually joined the Tar Heels, it appears like Malone made a wise recruiting decision that might have guaranteed Brown’s commitment. A few people were prepared to meet with Brown when he returned to his training gym in Las Vegas following all of his trips to possible schools.
According to Inside Carolina, Malone and his whole coaching staff traveled to Vegas to meet with Brown, and the next day, he made his pledge. Is this a coincidence now? Possibly, but having a whole teaching crew welcome you in your own home training facility is something that few programs likely provide, and Malone benefited from it.
UNC’s roster for the upcoming season suffered greatly as a result of the coaching change; the team lost several players to the transfer portal, including five-star Dylan Mingo. It hasn’t been easy for Malone to assemble a roster, but he may have discovered his key component.
Brown has the potential to significantly impact the Tar Heels, particularly in terms of scoring. Brown transferred to a power conference—possibly the most difficult power league with the Big 12—after two seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson, and he was undoubtedly capable of handling it.
This past season, Brown averaged 19.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Brown can be the player Malone needs to build around. Thus, the new coach was successful in closing the deal for the Tar Heels by sending out his entire coaching staff.
Although some questioned the decision to hire a former NBA coach, Malone has obviously been able to make rapid decisions, and maybe more recruiting victories are on the horizon.
