Dylan Mingo will not wear the North Carolina uniform for the 2026-27 men’s college basketball season, having decommitted from the Tar Heels days after the program hired former NBA champion Michael Malone as its new head coach.
The development means that the No. 9-ranked player in the SC Next 100 and the No. 8-ranked overall prospect in 247Sports’ rankings has reopened his recruitment two months after committing to UNC.
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The decision by the 6-foot-5 guard to reopen his recruitment gives schools that previously competed for Mingo’s commitment another chance to secure his commitment.
The Long Island Lutheran High School (New York) standout previously turned down offers from Baylor, Penn State, and Washington in favor of North Carolina.
It’s also worth noting that his brother, Kayden, is currently in the transfer portal after an impressive freshman season with Penn State.
Baylor Bears
Baylor failed to make this year’s NCAA Tournament, ending its streak of six consecutive March Madness appearances from 2019 to 2025. The Bears went 17-17 in the 2025-26 season and lost to Oklahoma in the College Basketball Crown Tournament semifinals.
The disappointing finish means former national champion head coach Scott Drew is set for a busy offseason as he prepares the team for the 2026-27 campaign. With last season’s top scorer, Cameron Carr, still uncertain about his next move, Drew can use this opportunity to once again court Mingo and make him one of his top stars next season.
The incoming freshman prospect has showcased his skills on the Nike EYBL circuit and averaged 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.3 steals in 12 games with the PSA Cardinals, meeting all of Drew’s criteria for the playmaker position.
Washington Huskies
Washington head coach Danny Sprinkle will have another chance to recruit Mingo after his decommitment from the Tar Heels.
Sprinkle, who lost out to Hubert Davis in securing Mingo’s commitment, now has an opportunity to rewrite his transfer portal misfortunes following the departures of Zoom Diallo and freshmen JJ Mandaquit and Courtland Muldrew.
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Washington has a strong chance of securing the incoming five-star prospect, as the Huskies could give Mingo plenty of minutes to showcase his skills in front of NBA scouts who have been monitoring him since his high school days.
Syracuse Orange
Syracuse may be a wildcard team that could pull off a surprise acquisition of Dylan and possibly his brother, Kayden. The Orange named former national champion Gerry McNamara as its new head coach, replacing Adrian Autry. The program also signed former Penn State associate head coach Jamal Brunt to McNamara’s coaching staff.
Brunt has a connection with Kayden after coaching him at Penn State. Now that the 6-foot-3 guard is in the transfer portal, Brunt can convince McNamara to take a look at the older Mingo, who is set to enter his sophomore season.
Reports also said the brothers would prefer to play together in the 2026-27 season, so it is a strong possibility they are just waiting for a school to sign them both. Brunt could be the key to luring the Mingos to Syracuse.
