If there’s one team that seems to have North Carolina’s number on the basketball court, it’s Alabama. The Crimson Tide knocked the Tar Heels out of the 2024 NCAA Tournament and followed that up with a win in their ACC-SEC Challenge meeting in December.
Despite their recent dominance over UNC, Alabama is still chasing its first National Championship. And as they gear up for the 2025–26 season, they’ll be without a notable piece—Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson, who transferred to UNC on April 13.
Stevenson now returns to the school he grew up rooting for, but he played a role in both of Alabama’s wins over North Carolina. In their NCAA Tournament matchup, he contributed four rebounds, a block, and an assist in 15 minutes off the bench. During the December clash, Stevenson added six points, three rebounds, a block, and an assist in 16 minutes of play.
After that win over UNC, Stevenson reflected on the experience.
“Tonight was definitely a surreal feeling,” he said. “I’ve been to a lot of their games. My mom played here too. It’s nice being back, and it’s always great to get a win.”
Now, Stevenson joins a suddenly loaded UNC frontcourt that features 5-star recruit Caleb Wilson, Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar, and returning center Ven-Allen Lubin, who came on strong late last season after stepping into the starting lineup. Zayden High could also be back, though his decision hasn’t been announced yet.
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