Jarin Stevenson’s commitment to the North Carolina Tar Heels for the 2026-27 season has been solidified.
The 6-foot-9, 216-pound forward officially re-signed with North Carolina on Friday. Stevenson announced that he would be returning to Chapel Hill for his senior year on April 13. While verbal commitments virtually lock the player in place, we have seen countless times in recent memory those announcements not coming to fruition. However, that will not be the case in this specific situation.
Significance of News
In the world of NIL, loyalty is shoved under the woodwork, as some players are prioritizing money over long-term development. Everyone is chasing money, and while student-athletes should value it, important aspects are being thrown out the window. That has led several players to back out of contracts with their respective programs and jump ship for coaches who will offer them the most money.
Luckily for the Tar Heels, Stevenson, while earning an insurmountable amount of money, is staying with a program close to home, which has allowed him to develop as a player and human being. That will continue to be the case, as head coach Michael Malone has a clear vision for the Alabama transfer next season.
What Malone Told Stevenson’s Family
According to multiple sources, the 54-year-old head coach made retaining Stevenson a priority this offseason. Stevenson’s dad explained what Malone told his family during the negotiation process.
- “He said he was going to make Jarin [Stevenson] a priority and that he’s expecting a lot out of him, and we all liked what he told us,” Jarod Stevenson said. “[Malone] expects Jarin [Stevenson] to take on that role as someone who can stretch the floor, play good defense, and rebound. He even mentioned Aaron Gordon with the Nuggets – that Jarin [Stevenson] could play a similar type of role.”
What To Expect From Stevenson in 2026
Last season, Stevenson played in all 33 games, including 25 starts. In those outings, the forward averaged 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from three-point range…