North Carolina lands commitment from 6'11 transfer big man Ivan Matlekovic

High Point transfer big man Ivan Matlekovic has committed to North Carolina, his agents at WEAVE tell On3.

The 6-foot-11 rising sophomore played this past season at High Point. As a freshman, the Croatian big man averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds per game, averaging 6.2 minutes an outing. He appeared in only five games for the Panthers.

Matlekovic provides front court depth for the Tar Heels.

Prior to his time at High Point, Matlekovic played for Mladost, a second tier professional league in Croatia, where he averaged 5.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Report: North Carolina exploring potential move from ACC to SEC

Is the college sports world ready for another round of realignment? Well, if a Tuesday report from Inside Carolina is accurate, North Carolina could be exploring a move away from the ACC to the SEC “perhaps in the near future.”

The University of North Carolina is reportedly among several schools “interested in seeking a potential departure from the ACC” whenever the next round of collegiate realignment happens, sources told Inside Carolina‘s Adam Smith. UNC could “even could be considered at the front of that pack, alongside Clemson.”

Inside Carolina sources reportedly named the SEC as the conference “the Tar Heels are aiming” to land, should it ultimately exit the ACC. The ACC’s exit fees drop from $93 million in 2029-30 to a flat $75 million beginning with the 2030-31 academic year, which “would figure to become an important final line of demarcation, if the Tar Heels haven’t made their departure (from the ACC) sooner,” per Inside Carolina.

Inside Carolina cited the March settlement to last year’s lawsuit filed by Clemson and Florida State challenging the ACC’s conference exit fee and revenue distribution figures for providing a “substantial victory to member schools for exploring possible pathways toward leaving the conference and relocating to greener financial pastures.” Inside Carolina suggested UNC chancellor Lee Roberts “quietly” got involved in behind-the-scenes negotiations and “performed a key role in helping finalize” the ACC’s settlement with Clemson and FSU.

Per the ACC settlement terms, the league’s exit fees go from $165 million this current academic year to $147 million in 2026-27. The number drops to $129 million in 2027-28, and $111 million in 2028-29 before dropping under the $100 million threshold beginning in 2029, per Inside Carolina’s report.

— On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this report.