Heel Tough Blog: Michael Malone Adds International Pro to UNC Program

247Sports

After landing Northwestern transfer Cade Bennerman yesterday, Michael Malone added another big man to the roster on Monday, in the form of international pro Sayon Keita, a member of FC Barcelona. Keita is a 7-0, 215-pound center who visited Chapel Hill back in 2025, averaged 8.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 19 minutes, while playing in ACB and EuroLeague competition for FC Barcelona’s Under-22 team. 

This is the latest step to reshaping Carolina’s frontcourt, after losing both Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar to the NBA. Michael Malone was able to retain Jarin Stevenson, but has since added FAU transfer Maxim Logue, the aforementioned Cade Bennerman, and now Sayon Keita. It’s a room full of size and potential, but lacks known production at the college level. 

The addition of Keita brings Carolina’s roster total to 13 players, and they might not be done adding to the frontcourt. Carolina is also interested in adding another member of the FC Barcelona basketball family, in Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, a 7-0, 230-pound center who is ranked as the No. 118 overall player, and the No. 17 center in the 2027 recruiting class. He played in 25 games for the U22 team, and he averaged 16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, while shooting 60% from inside the arc, and 32% from behind the three-point line. 

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