Exciting news surfaced this weekend about a top basketball prospect: five-star Finnish forward Miikka Muurinen has named UNC among his top seven schools.
The 6-foot-10 standout from Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, included the Tar Heels alongside Arkansas, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, N.C. State, and Duke in his final list.
It’s a strong group of finalists, and Muurinen plans to take all of his remaining official visits this fall. When he visits Chapel Hill, he’ll have the unique opportunity to walk the same campus where his mother, Jenni Laaksonen, played from 2001 to 2003.
Laaksonen was a key player under legendary Heels coach Sylvia Hatchell, appearing in 52 games over two seasons.
Family connections like these can be a big advantage in recruiting—especially when competing against top programs for a versatile 6-foot-10 talent like Muurinen.
Could Muurinen be the ideal successor to another five-star Tar Heel?
Ranked ninth-best in the 2026 class by composite rankings, Muurinen skipped the summer prospect circuit to return to Finland and focus on preparing for the FIBA EuroBasket tournament this August and September.
If Caleb Wilson lives up to the hype and enters the 2026 NBA Draft, Muurinen could be the perfect fit to fill his shoes, sharing similar length and physical attributes.
ScoutHoops’ Eric Bossi describes Muurinen as a “long and lanky athlete with an advanced skill set. He handles the ball well for his size, can step out and knock down jumpers, serves as a lob threat, and consistently beats other bigs from rim to rim in transition.”
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