North Carolina basketball veteran coach Hubert Davis is welcoming back a notable personality: former four‑star recruit Zayden High is officially set to rejoin the Tar Heels lineup for the 2025‑26 season after being sidelined for the fall semester .
High, a 6‑foot‑9 forward from Compass Prep (Arizona), originally committed to UNC in the high‑profile 2023 class. He debuted as a freshman with limited minutes in 23 games—logging just 108 total minutes and scoring 0.8 points per game . However, in August 2023, he was suspended following allegations of filming a sexual encounter without consent, thereby violating the university’s sexual misconduct policy .
The UNC Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office enforced his removal for the fall semester; although High was barred from official participation—including practices, games, and travel—he was still allowed access to athletic facilities . His suspension stirred controversy, with critics citing the university’s compliance with Title IX requirements and FERPA as potential grounds for legal and administrative scrutiny .
But as of April 30, 2025, High has been officially reinstated. Coach Davis and his staff see him as a strategic asset amid roster turnover—including the departures of Ian Jackson, Elliot Cadeau, Jalen Washington, and Jae’Lyn Withers via the transfer portal . The return of High adds depth to UNC, which has already bolstered its lineup with portal additions like Jarin Stevenson and Henri Veesaar .
High’s return is expected to reinforce North Carolina’s inside presence and provide Coach Davis with a morale boost heading into a critical upcoming season. With UNC on the bubble of tournament contention and under scrutiny following inconsistent performance in recent years, every roster piece.