Heel Tough Blog: 2026 Four-Star SF Sets UNC Visit

League Ready

Earlier this summer, the Tar Heels offered 2026 four-star small forward, Bryson Howard, the son of former NBA player, Josh Howard. Following that offer, and further recruitment of Howard, he has scheduled a visit to UNC later this year. Howard is considered to be the No. 28 player in the 2026 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports, and is considered to be the No. 11 small forward and the No. 2 player from the state of Texas. He will be in Chapel Hill from September 5th-7th, following a visit with Texas A&M. After visiting Chapel Hill, Howard will visit Texas, Duke, Houston, Kentucky, UConn, and Tennessee, all by the end of October. 

Here is how Adam Finklestein, the Scouting Director for 247Sports, details Howard’s game: “Howard is an athletic southpaw wing with good positional size, a high-motor, and terrific frame that is undoubtedly going to continue filling out. He attacks the rim, getting downhill in the open court and playing through contact. He rises up to finish and is a lob threat. He also has a translatable shooting stroke and has even shown some flashes of being able to make movement shots. Defensively, he’s engaged and excels with his court coverage. There’s still room for him to clean up some of his angles, but he has a world of potential both on and off the ball.’ 

Howard becomes the latest 2026 target to schedule a visit with the Tar Heels, and with the contract details being released for new GM Jim Tanner on Friday, there’s a financial incentive for Tanner to ensure that Howard joins the Carolina Basketball family, as his salary increases by $100,000 if the program signs a four-star recruiting prospect. 

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