CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Zayden High is anticipated to rejoin the North Carolina men’s basketball team for the upcoming season, as reported by multiple sources to Inside Carolina. This move is seen as the final step towards his return after he sat out the previous season.
The 6-foot-9 forward re-enrolled in January and resumed his studies at UNC this semester, which concluded on Monday prior to final exams. Although he didn’t officially rejoin the team, he continued to be absent from college basketball while the Tar Heels proceeded with their schedule over the last three months of the 2024-25 season.
There is now an expectation for High’s return, as UNC coach Hubert Davis and general manager Jim Tanner work on a major overhaul of the roster. The NCAA’s transfer portal opened on March 24 and closed on April 22, but High did not explore any transfer options.
So far, Carolina has welcomed five new transfers: guard Kyan Evans from Colorado State, guard Jaydon Young from Virginia Tech, wing Jonathan Powell from West Virginia, forward Jarin Stevenson from Alabama, and big man Henri Veesaar from Arizona. In contrast, forward Ven-Allen Lubin recently entered the portal, joining point guard Elliot Cadeau (committed to Michigan), big man Jalen Washington (committed to Vanderbilt), guard Ian Jackson (committed to St. John’s), and forward Cade Tyson.
Seth Trimble remains the only former teammate still present from High’s freshman year in the 2023-24 season. Coach Davis and the Carolina basketball program have refrained from commenting on High’s status, consistent with their previous stance throughout the last season.
Despite his absence from the team, High has maintained access to the Smith Center and been a regular presence around the facilities, including the locker room and weight room. He has worked out independently, utilizing the court named after Roy Williams during off-hours from team activities.
During his minimal appearances in the 2023-24 season, High played in 23 games as a freshman, contributing 18 points (0.8 per game) and 26 rebounds (1.1 per game) in 102 minutes of play. The season included a notable performance in March 2024, where he scored a season-high four points in a blowout win against Florida State. Despite limited play, his efforts were recognized by Davis, who noted High’s impact on the game beyond statistics.
