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Three North Carolina men’s basketball players are featured in ESPN’s early mock draft for the 2027 NBA Draft, with Matt Able, Sayon Keita, and Neoklis Avdalas all projected to be selected.
Able is ranked highest at No. 16 overall in ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo’s first 2027 mock draft, marking him as a potential lottery pick. Keita is projected at No. 25, while Avdalas is expected to go No. 53.
Able, entering his first season at Chapel Hill, aims to solidify his status as a first-round pick after a strong freshman season at NC State.
The Baltimore native entered both the transfer portal and the NBA Draft process after his rookie year. Initially projected as a mid-second-round pick, he improved his prospects with a solid performance at the NBA Draft Combine, climbing as high as No. 33 in ESPN’s mock before withdrawing and transferring to North Carolina.
At NC State, Able contributed significantly off the bench, averaging 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 21.8 minutes over 34 games. He shot 41.6% from the field, 35.5% from three, and 79.6% from the free-throw line. In 18 ACC games, he averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds, shooting 42.1% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc, and 83.3% from the line.
Keita, projected at No. 25 overall, provides North Carolina with another early-round frontcourt prospect. The talented 7-footer helped FC Barcelona win the Adidas Next Generation EuroLeague under-18 title, averaging 9.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in Athens, with shooting splits of 50% from the field and 76.9% from the free-throw line. During pool play, he averaged 10.5 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks.
This season, the 6-foot-11 center played for FC Barcelona’s senior team in Spain’s Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He appeared in 13 games, averaging 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in six EuroLeague games, shooting 58.3% from the field on two-point attempts, and averaging 0.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in seven Liga ACB outings. Keita has been more productive with Barcelona’s under-22 team, averaging 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in league play.
Avdalas completes North Carolina’s early NBA prospects, listed at No. 53 in Woo’s mock draft. He was ranked the No. 3 shooting guard and No. 20 overall player in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings. The 6-foot-9 wing averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds last season at Virginia Tech, with shooting percentages of 38.6% from the field and 31.4% from three.
He participated in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine after four seasons of high-level competition in Greece, where he averaged 10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in two scrimmages, before withdrawing from the draft.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Three UNC players land in ESPN's 2027 NBA mock draft
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Able is ranked highest at No. 16 overall in ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo’s first 2027 mock draft, marking him as a potential lottery pick. Keita is projected at No. 25, while Avdalas is expected to go No. 53.
Able, entering his first season at Chapel Hill, aims to solidify his status as a first-round pick after a strong freshman season at NC State.
The Baltimore native entered both the transfer portal and the NBA Draft process after his rookie year. Initially projected as a mid-second-round pick, he improved his prospects with a solid performance at the NBA Draft Combine, climbing as high as No. 33 in ESPN’s mock before withdrawing and transferring to North Carolina.
At NC State, Able contributed significantly off the bench, averaging 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 21.8 minutes over 34 games. He shot 41.6% from the field, 35.5% from three, and 79.6% from the free-throw line. In 18 ACC games, he averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds, shooting 42.1% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc, and 83.3% from the line.
Keita, projected at No. 25 overall, provides North Carolina with another early-round frontcourt prospect. The talented 7-footer helped FC Barcelona win the Adidas Next Generation EuroLeague under-18 title, averaging 9.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in Athens, with shooting splits of 50% from the field and 76.9% from the free-throw line. During pool play, he averaged 10.5 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks.
This season, the 6-foot-11 center played for FC Barcelona’s senior team in Spain’s Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He appeared in 13 games, averaging 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in six EuroLeague games, shooting 58.3% from the field on two-point attempts, and averaging 0.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in seven Liga ACB outings. Keita has been more productive with Barcelona’s under-22 team, averaging 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in league play.
Avdalas completes North Carolina’s early NBA prospects, listed at No. 53 in Woo’s mock draft. He was ranked the No. 3 shooting guard and No. 20 overall player in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings. The 6-foot-9 wing averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds last season at Virginia Tech, with shooting percentages of 38.6% from the field and 31.4% from three.
He participated in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine after four seasons of high-level competition in Greece, where he averaged 10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in two scrimmages, before withdrawing from the draft.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Three UNC players land in ESPN's 2027 NBA mock draft
Continue reading...
