UNC Basketball Transfer Addition receives national recognition

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame released its 20-deep 2025 Karl Malone Award watchlist on Thursday. And it includes a UNC basketball newcomer in former two-year Belmont standout Cade Tyson, whose proven three-point ability at the fourth spot should create space for the electric Tar Heel guards to drive while taking the pressure off the relatively inexperienced big men of the team.

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Tyson is one of only three ACC players on the preseason list of contenders for the Karl Malone Award, given annually to the top forward in Division I. The conference’s other two are Clemson’s Ian Schieffelin and Syracuse’s Donnie Freeman.

Of course, Cade Tyson is no stranger to collegiate accolades.

The 21-year-old from Monroe, NC, the younger brother of former Clemson star Hunter Tyson, earned Missouri Valley Conference Rookie of the Year honors before earning All-MVC Second Team honors as a Belmont sophomore while playing a averaged 16.2 points per game and shot 46.5 percent from beyond the arc as a full-time starter.

Judging from the lineups that fourth-year UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis deployed during the team’s two exhibition games, in which Cade Tyson shot a combined 5-for-12 from downtown, there’s a good chance the 6-foot-1, 200-yard pounder will be in the Tar Heels’ 2024-25 starting five when they conclude their regular season at home against Elon on Monday at 9 p.m. ET (ACC Network).

No UNC basketball talent has won the Karl Malone Award since its inception in 2015.

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