Michael Malone, Chuck Martin, and Pat Sullivan opened the live evaluation period by heading to the Adidas 3SSB stop in Mishawaka, Indiana, and it didn’t take long for them to identify a prospect who immediately stood out as a potential future fit in Chapel Hill.
Michael Malone hands out UNC’s first Class of 2028 offer
It took just one game for the North Carolina staff to lock in on towering sophomore Yann Kamagate as a serious recruiting target. After a dominant performance in which he poured in 16 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, the Tar Heels quickly moved to extend an offer.
What makes the offer even more eye-catching is Kamagate’s age. As a Class of 2028 prospect, he’s still only a sophomore, yet already measures in at 7-foot-1 and 230 pounds. His sheer size alone commands attention, and when paired with his mobility and motor, it’s easy to envision how imposing he could be in Carolina blue once he reaches the college ranks.
UNC isn’t the only program that came away impressed. Since Thursday, Kamagate has added offers from Kansas, Baylor, and UCLA, stacking onto an already strong list that includes USC, Houston, Texas A&M, Arizona, and Creighton. With his physical tools and rapid development, it feels inevitable that more schools will soon jump into the mix. He’s quickly emerging as one of the fastest-rising prospects in the 2028 class.
After watching Kamagate last month, 247Sports’ Eric Bossi offered glowing praise for the big man’s long-term upside. Bossi pointed to Kamagate’s near seven-foot frame, long arms, and wiry strength, calling him an elite athlete who runs the floor effortlessly, finishes above the rim, and plays with nonstop energy. While his first viewing wasn’t flawless, Bossi emphasized that the talent and potential were obvious and suggested Kamagate could debut as a five-star prospect when the 2028 rankings are updated.
Meanwhile, Sean May spent the weekend in Memphis attending the EYBL event, evaluating several of UNC’s current recruiting targets. While his primary focus was on players already on the board, the staff remains alert for new names who could eventually fit what the program is building in Chapel Hill.
Kamagate is exactly that type of prospect. His dominant showing clearly left a strong impression on Michael Malone and the rest of the staff. He’s a name UNC fans should file away now, because Yann Kamagate is quickly trending toward becoming one of the most coveted players in the Class of 2028.