Ever since Michael Malone took over the program, North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball has been aggressively searching for ways to strengthen its roster ahead of the 2026-27 college basketball season. One of the team’s biggest priorities remains adding more size and depth to the frontcourt, and the latest recruiting developments suggest the Tar Heels are continuing to explore every possible option in the transfer portal.
A new name has now surfaced on UNC’s radar. According to college basketball insider Tobias Bass of The Athletic, the Tar Heels have recently been in contact with former Robert Morris Colonials men’s basketball big man Josh Hill. Reports indicate that the two sides recently held a Zoom meeting as North Carolina evaluates whether Hill could become a valuable addition to the roster.
Hill, a 6-foot-11 forward, originally began his collegiate career at Arkansas State Red Wolves men’s basketball before transferring to Robert Morris prior to his sophomore season. After making the move, he earned a larger role within the Colonials’ rotation and gradually became an important contributor for the program.
During the 2025-26 campaign, Hill appeared in 22 games, mostly serving as a reserve option. Even in limited minutes, he produced solid numbers, averaging 7.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 45.5 percent from the field. He also made six starts throughout the season and helped Robert Morris finish with a strong 22-11 overall record, good enough for second place in the Horizon League standings.
Although North Carolina has already landed some of the offseason’s biggest additions, the coaching staff is still searching for reliable role players capable of contributing immediately. The Tar Heels especially want more depth in the paint, making Hill an intriguing possibility because of his size, experience, and potential to provide energy off the bench.
UNC’s roster overhaul has been massive this offseason. Following major departures, the program was forced to rebuild much of its lineup from the ground up. Several players from last year’s team either entered the NBA Draft or chose to transfer elsewhere, leaving significant holes throughout the roster.
The frontcourt suffered some of the biggest losses. Star players Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar are both headed to the professional ranks, while depth pieces such as Zayden High and James Brown decided to continue their college careers at different programs. Those departures created an urgent need for additional size and rebounding heading into next season.
Because of that situation, North Carolina has remained active in both the transfer portal and the international recruiting scene. The Tar Heels have already been connected to multiple available big men as the staff works to finalize the roster before the start of the season.
At this point, all signs continue to indicate that Malone and his coaching staff intend to add at least one more frontcourt player before closing out their offseason recruiting efforts. Whether Josh Hill ultimately becomes that addition remains uncertain, but the recent discussions clearly show that UNC is continuing to evaluate experienced options who can strengthen the team’s depth and provide immediate support in the paint for the upcoming season.
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