A top-tier basketball recruit has reversed course on his college plans, withdrawing his pledge to the University of North Carolina after meeting with the program’s new coaching staff.
Dylan Mingo, ranked as the eighth-best prospect nationally in the 2027 graduating class by 247Sports, announced Monday that he is backing out of his February commitment to UNC and will explore other college options. The 6-foot-5 versatile guard from Long Island Lutheran in New York had originally pledged to play for former head coach Hubert Davis on February 17.
The decision comes after UNC brought in Michael Malone as the new head coach on April 7, replacing Davis who was dismissed from his position. Mingo spent time with Malone and his coaching staff during the weekend before making his announcement.
Since Mingo never signed an official letter of intent with North Carolina, he remains free to consider other programs. His original list of finalists included Baylor, Penn State, and Washington, while he also received scholarship offers from Alabama, Illinois, Louisville, UConn, and Texas.
The talented guard’s senior season was largely derailed by an ankle injury, which kept him sidelined for most games and prevented his selection to the prestigious McDonald’s All-American roster. Despite the setback, Mingo demonstrated his abilities last summer by earning Most Valuable Player honors at the NBPA Top 100 camp, where he averaged 23.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 6.5 rebounds per contest.
In limited action during 12 regular-season games with the PSA Cardinals in the Nike EYBL circuit, Mingo still managed impressive numbers, posting 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
When he initially committed to the Tar Heels, Mingo expressed his championship aspirations to ESPN, stating: “I feel like from Day 1, my role will be a player who impacts winning in every aspect. Honestly, I am just a person who will give it his all to win a national championship.”
