North Carolina Targets Top Wake Forest Transfer Juke Harris

New Tar Heels coach Michael Malone plans in-home visit with standout scorer

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:57am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college basketball player in motion, with sharp planes of Carolina blue, navy, and white colors overlapping to create a fragmented, multi-perspective view of the athlete.A new era of North Carolina basketball under coach Michael Malone could hinge on landing a top transfer target like Wake Forest's Juke Harris.Wake Forest Today

North Carolina's new head coach Michael Malone is pursuing a top transfer target from Wake Forest - sophomore guard Juke Harris. Malone and the Tar Heels coaching staff intend to visit Harris at his home in Salisbury, North Carolina to try to convince him to join the program for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Why it matters

Landing a talented scorer like Harris would be a major boost for Malone as he looks to rebuild the North Carolina program after their early NCAA Tournament exit last season. Harris emerged as one of the top players in the ACC last year, and his addition could help the Tar Heels return to national prominence.

The details

Harris had a breakout sophomore campaign at Wake Forest, earning 2nd team All-ACC honors after increasing his scoring average from 6.1 points per game as a freshman to 21.3 points per game. He scored 28 points against North Carolina in January and had a 38-point explosion on the road against Boston College. The Tar Heels are looking to add Harris to their roster as they transition to the Malone era after parting ways with former head coach Hubert Davis.

  • Malone and the North Carolina staff will visit Harris at his home in Salisbury, North Carolina in the coming days.
  • Harris recently returned from an official visit to Michigan, where he attended the team's national championship parade.

The players

Michael Malone

The new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, who previously led the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship.

Juke Harris

A standout sophomore guard at Wake Forest who entered the transfer portal after a breakout season, earning 2nd team All-ACC honors.

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What they’re saying

“'They'll be heading to Salisbury, N.C. for an in-home visit with Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris, a source close to the recruitment confirmed to Inside Carolina late Saturday night.'”

— Sherrell McMillan, On3 reporter

What’s next

Malone and the North Carolina coaching staff will meet with Harris at his home in the coming days to try to convince him to join the Tar Heels for the 2026-27 season. Harris is also considering offers from Tennessee, NC State, and Michigan.

The takeaway

Securing a commitment from Juke Harris would be a major coup for new North Carolina head coach Michael Malone as he looks to rebuild the Tar Heels into a national title contender. Harris' scoring ability and experience in the ACC could provide an immediate boost to a North Carolina team that struggled to find consistent offense last season.