UNC Targets Top Wake Forest Transfer Juke Harris

New Tar Heels coach Michael Malone makes in-home visit with coveted guard

Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:39pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player's movements broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes, using vibrant shades of blue and gold.A new era of Tar Heels basketball begins with the pursuit of a coveted transfer target.Wake Forest Today

New North Carolina head coach Michael Malone and his staff are already hard at work, making a key in-home visit with highly coveted Wake Forest transfer guard Juke Harris. The 6-foot-7 wing is ranked as one of the top players in the transfer portal after a breakout sophomore season with the Demon Deacons.

Why it matters

Landing a top transfer like Harris would be a major early win for Malone as he looks to rebuild the Tar Heels program. Harris' scoring ability and NBA potential make him a highly sought-after target for many top programs.

The details

Harris earned second-team All-ACC honors last season, averaging 24.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He had several standout performances, including a 28-point game against UNC and a season-high 38 points at Boston College. After declaring for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, Harris is now exploring transfer options, with UNC, Tennessee, NC State and Michigan among the schools pursuing him.

  • On April 3, Harris announced he would enter the transfer portal and test the NBA draft waters.
  • Malone and his UNC staff plan to visit Harris for an in-home meeting in Salisbury, North Carolina.

The players

Michael Malone

The new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, who previously served as the head coach of the Denver Nuggets and has a reputation as a top player developer in the NBA.

Juke Harris

A 6-foot-7 guard who earned second-team All-ACC honors at Wake Forest last season, averaging 24.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He is ranked as one of the top players in the transfer portal.

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What’s next

If Harris returns to college, another big year could push his draft stock higher. Landing at UNC could further enhance his profile, with the chance to play for Malone, a former Denver Nuggets coach who won an NBA title and earned a reputation as one of the league's top player developers.

The takeaway

Malone is wasting no time making his mark at UNC, aggressively pursuing one of the top available transfers in Juke Harris. Securing a commitment from Harris would be a major early win for the new Tar Heels coach as he looks to rebuild the program.