By ADAM ZAGORIA
New North Carolina Mike Malone is reaching far and wide to build his new team.
The Tar Heels on Tuesday landed 7-foot center and Mali native Sayon Keita, who has played two years professionally for FC Barcelona. Keita is expected to reclassify into the Class of 2026 and enroll at the ACC school.
Keita, 18, is averaging 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in league play.
“An impressive athlete with great natural tools and upside,” wrote NBADraftRoom.com, which projects Keita as the No. 24 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. “Does everything you want from a center including rebounding the heck out of the ball and defending in the paint.”
NEWS: Sayon Keita has committed to UNC, Gersh Sports tells DraftExpress.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 28, 2026
The 7-foot, 18-year-old Mali native is a projected 2027 lottery pick, oozing talent as a finisher, passer, offensive rebounder and shot-blocker, with a 7'5 wingspan.
Huge talent injection for Mike Malone. pic.twitter.com/bUsu4WPZfu
With Henri Veessaar declaring for the NBA Draft, Keita looms as a potential frontcourt replacement.
Keita joins an incoming transfer group that includes Maxim Logue, Terrence Brown, Matt Able, Neoklis Avdalas and Cade Bennerman
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