Early Look at UNC’s Projected Starting Lineup Following Luka Bogavac’s Arrival
As the 2025–26 college basketball season approaches, the North Carolina Tar Heels are putting the finishing touches on what’s been a transformative offseason. The most recent—and perhaps final—piece of the puzzle came with the addition of Luka Bogavac, a skilled international wing who fills a major void left by Drake Powell’s early jump to the NBA.
Head coach Hubert Davis, with assistance from NBA agent and UNC alum Jim Tanner, landed Bogavac at the end of May, giving the Tar Heels a dynamic scorer with professional experience overseas. His commitment strengthens a roster that features just two returning players from last season and welcomes nine newcomers. With so many fresh faces, UNC will have a dramatically different look this fall—but the potential is undeniable.
Here’s a breakdown of what the starting five could look like once the new season tips off:
Kyan Evans – Guard
Evans arrives from Colorado State with the tools to immediately take command of the Tar Heels’ backcourt. He’s a polished scorer and a lights-out shooter from deep, knocking down 44.6% of his three-point attempts last season—an area that was sorely lacking in Chapel Hill. While he’ll likely be the primary ballhandler, his versatility allows him to slide off the ball when needed. His combination of perimeter shooting and steady decision-making makes him a strong candidate to start from day one.
Seth Trimble – Guard
Trimble could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the team’s revamped roster. The spacing issues that plagued UNC last season should be eased with better shooters around him, giving Trimble more room to attack downhill—his bread and butter. With more natural fits across the lineup, he’ll also return to his preferred role defensively, no longer needing to match up against bigger wings. In his final year of eligibility, Trimble is well-positioned to take on a leadership role and show off his playmaking ability in a more open offense.
Luka Bogavac – Wing
UNC didn’t bring in Bogavac to be a role player. The 6-foot-5 scorer from Montenegro figures to be a plug-and-play starter on the wing. While not the tallest at his position, Bogavac’s efficiency stands out: he averaged 14.9 points per game in the Adriatic League while shooting 45% from the field, 40% from beyond the arc, and 87% at the free-throw line. He addresses UNC’s need for reliable perimeter offense and will be expected to produce right away in a featured role.
Caleb Wilson – Forward
A consensus top-five recruit in the 2025 class, Wilson enters Chapel Hill with sky-high expectations. While Hubert Davis has occasionally eased freshmen into college basketball, Wilson’s talent level likely makes him the exception. His length, skill, and feel for the game should allow him to transition quickly, especially with veteran support around him. Wilson projects as a high-impact starter from the jump and could emerge as a go-to player before season’s end.
Henri Veesaar – Center
One of UNC’s most pressing needs this offseason was size and interior defense. They addressed that head-on with the addition of Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar. The 7-foot center brings shot-blocking, rebounding, and an ability to stretch the floor—a rare combination at his size. Veesaar’s presence in the paint should help stabilize UNC’s frontcourt and give them a rim protector they’ve lacked in recent years. He’s expected to anchor the defense and play a critical role on both ends of the floor.
Outlook
If this projected starting lineup holds, it reflects a roster built around balance, versatility, and experience. With Evans providing perimeter shooting and ball control, Trimble driving the offense with athleticism and defense, and Bogavac adding international scoring punch, UNC’s backcourt is much more dynamic than last year’s group. Up front, the pairing of Wilson and Veesaar offers a combination of elite potential and proven production.
While the team will face the usual growing pains of integrating so many new pieces, the talent level across the board suggests that the Tar Heels won’t need a long runway to become competitive. And if the chemistry develops quickly, this retooled group could quietly evolve into one of the more dangerous teams in the ACC.
North Carolina’s New Floor General
Passing the Torch: Kyan Evans Set to Lead the Tar Heels Into a New Era
As the North Carolina Tar Heels turn the page from one season to the next, a new name is emerging as the potential leader of a retooled backcourt: Kyan Evans. The former Colorado State point guard announced his decision to transfer to Chapel Hill, stepping into a role recently vacated by All-American RJ Davis. In Evans, UNC isn’t just acquiring a guard with impressive numbers—they’re getting a floor general with poise, vision, and a knack for rising to the occasion.
For head coach Hubert Davis and his staff, this commitment fills a crucial gap. Davis was the heart and soul of North Carolina’s offense last season, a veteran who dictated tempo, made clutch shots, and served as the team’s emotional leader. Replacing a player of that caliber is no small task, but Evans brings a unique combination of maturity and upside that could make him the perfect successor.
From the Heartland to the National Stage
Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Evans emerged as one of the more underrated point guards in college basketball during the 2024–25 season. At Colorado State, he proved himself as both a reliable scorer and an efficient playmaker. In just his sophomore year, Evans started all 36 games for the Rams, averaging 10.6 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per contest. Beyond the raw numbers, what stood out was his efficiency: he shot 47.1% from the field and a scorching 44.6% from three-point range—an elite mark by any standard.
Those shooting splits placed him among the most accurate perimeter shooters in the nation, and they weren’t the result of a low volume or easy looks. Evans was often tasked with creating his own shot, navigating tight defensive coverage, and making plays late in the shot clock. He played with a patience and control beyond his years, often making the right read rather than forcing highlight-reel plays.
Evans’ ability to run an offense was especially evident when Colorado State faced high-pressure situations. He rarely turned the ball over, delivered crisp passes in transition, and showed an understanding of when to speed up the tempo or slow it down. All these traits will be essential in his new role at North Carolina, where expectations are always sky-high.
Shining Bright on College Basketball’s Biggest Stage we
While Evans had a solid regular season, his true breakout came during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. In a first-round matchup against fifth-seeded Memphis, Colorado State entered as a clear underdog. But Evans flipped the script with a performance that caught the attention of fans and coaches across the country. He poured in a career-high 23 points, drilling six three-pointers and guiding the Rams to a thrilling upset win.
That game didn’t just showcase his scoring ability—it revealed his calm under pressure and his leadership when the stakes were at their highest. Evans played with confidence and composure, never rushing his decisions and consistently making the right reads against a fast, aggressive Memphis defense. He looked like a veteran orchestrating a playoff-caliber offense, and he carried that energy throughout the tournament.
It was the kind of performance that doesn’t just build a résumé—it builds belief. Belief that he could lead a Power Five program. Belief that he belonged on a bigger stage. Belief that he could be the primary point guard for a blueblood like North Carolina.
A Perfect Fit for Chapel Hill
Evans’ decision to transfer to UNC comes at a critical juncture for the program. With Davis now pursuing professional opportunities and several other changes reshaping the Tar Heels’ roster, the team is looking for a new voice to lead the offense. And with Evans, they’re getting a player who checks all the boxes.
UNC’s offense thrives when run by a smart, fast-thinking guard who can distribute the ball and knock down open shots. Evans fits that mold perfectly. His ability to shoot off the catch or off the dribble will stretch opposing defenses and open driving lanes for wings and bigs. His court vision allows him to find teammates in stride, whether in transition or in half-court sets.
But beyond the X’s and O’s, Evans brings something less tangible yet equally valuable: maturity. He’s already played two full seasons of college basketball and has experience being the primary ball-handler. He knows how to handle adversity, how to manage the rhythm of a game, and how to be a vocal presence on the floor. Those are the traits Hubert Davis will lean on as he integrates a younger supporting cast around his new point guard.
Evans will also be asked to defend at a high level, something he’s shown flashes of. While not known as a lockdown defender, he has good lateral quickness and understands team defensive concepts. At UNC, where defense is often the catalyst for offense, Evans’ ability to apply pressure at the point of attack and disrupt passing lanes will be important.
Embracing the Pressure and the Platform
Transitioning to a program with the history and expectations of North Carolina isn’t always easy. The lights are brighter. The fanbase is louder. The scrutiny is constant. But Evans seems ready for the moment. He’s already shown that he can thrive in pressure-packed environments, and now he’ll have the opportunity to do it night in and night out in the ACC.
And while he’s new to the Tar Heel system, Evans won’t be alone. He’ll have the benefit of working with experienced coaches, training in top-tier facilities, and competing alongside high-level talent. With a well-rounded roster and a coaching staff that believes in player development, Evans is in a prime position to elevate his game even further.
Expectations will be high. UNC fans will look to him to set the tone, make big plays, and keep the offense humming. But those are exactly the responsibilities Evans seems to crave. He wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line. He wants to be the one making decisions. And now, in Carolina blue, he’ll get that chance.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter Begins
As the 2025–26 season approaches, all eyes will be on how the Tar Heels adjust to their new-look backcourt. While there are still questions to answer—how the team’s younger players will develop, what the rotation will look like, how the chemistry will evolve—one thing seems clear: Kyan Evans will be at the center of it all.
If his past performances are any indication, he won’t just blend in—he’ll lead. With a balanced game, a competitive edge, and a calm demeanor, Evans is poised to become the next great point guard in UNC’s storied lineage. His journey from Colorado State to Chapel Hill represents more than a change of scenery—it’s the start of a new era, one that he has every intention of defining.
And in doing so, he may just become the heartbeat of the next Tar Heel contender.
Leave a Reply