Helena Frye
The UNC Tar Heels men's basketball team has seen a lot of player movement in recent years, with several players transferring out of the program and others transferring in. In 2023, the team lost six players to the transfer portal, including guard Caleb Love, Dontrez Styles, and Puff Johnson. The team has also added players through the transfer portal, such as Belmont transfer Cade Tyson, Virginia Tech transfer Jaydon Young, and Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar. The team's head coach, Hubert Davis, has been criticised for his handling of the team, but he has also received support, with some acknowledging the challenges of coaching in the pressure cooker of North Carolina basketball.
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What You'll Learn
Players who have left UNC via the transfer portal
The UNC Tar Heels men's basketball program has seen its fair share of player transfers in and out in recent years.
In 2023, the team lost six players to the transfer portal, including guard Caleb Love, Dontrez Styles, Puff Johnson, Tyler Nickel, and Will Shaver. Caleb Love, a former five-star recruit, averaged 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game during his time at UNC. Puff Johnson and Dontrez Styles were also key pieces of the team, and Tyler Nickel and Will Shaver were members of the 2022 recruiting class.
Other notable players who have left UNC via the transfer portal include Justin McKoy, who entered the portal in 2023; Andrew Platek, who transferred to Sienna University in 2021; and Brooks, a fan favourite who left for Mississippi State, where his father was on the coaching staff.
In terms of incoming transfers, the UNC Tar Heels have also been active in the transfer market. In 2023, they were in contact with West Virginia forward James Okonkwo, who averaged 20.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game that season. They also added Belmont transfer Cade Tyson, who was ranked 15th nationally in three-point percentage at 46.5%.
For the 2024-25 season, UNC added West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell, who started 23 of 32 games for the Mountaineers that season, and Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoyuri and Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero were among the Tar Heels' top targets.
The transfer portal has become an integral part of college basketball, with players transferring for various reasons, including playing time, coaching changes, changes in playing style, or personal reasons.
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Players who have joined UNC via the transfer portal
The UNC Tar Heels men's basketball team has seen a lot of player movement in recent years, with several players both leaving and joining the program via the transfer portal.
In 2023, the UNC basketball program underwent an important offseason rebuild after failing to make the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels lost six players to the transfer portal, including guard Caleb Love, Dontrez Styles, Puff Johnson, Tyler Nickel, and Will Shaver.
However, the team also added several players through the transfer portal. They were in contact with West Virginia forward James Okonkwo, who visited the program in July 2023. Additionally, Florida transfer Kowacie Reeves, who averaged 8.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game with the Gators, was also considering UNC. Forward Nicholas Timberlake, a graduate transfer from Towson, was another potential addition.
In 2024, the UNC Tar Heels added Belmont transfer Cade Tyson, a 6-foot-7 wing who was 15th nationally in three-point percentage at 46.5%. The team also welcomed back junior Seth Trimble, who had entered the transfer portal but later pulled his name and returned to Chapel Hill.
In 2025, Virginia Tech guard Jaydon Young committed to UNC, joining head coach Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels after spending the first two seasons of his career at Virginia Tech.
On the football side, there have also been player movements via the transfer portal. QB Jacolby Criswell entered the transfer portal for the third time, having previously transferred to Arkansas in 2023 before returning to UNC for the 2024 season. Additionally, multiple UNC football players declared their intentions to transfer out of Chapel Hill following the end of the 2024 season and the firing of head coach Mack Brown.
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UNC's 2023 offseason rebuild
As of April 1, six players had departed via the transfer portal, including star guard Caleb Love, who averaged 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game during his time at UNC. Other notable losses include Dontrez Styles, Puff Johnson, Tyler Nickel, and Will Shaver. With a relatively small 2023 recruiting class of just two players, Davis will need to be active in the transfer market to fill the roster holes and address the team's needs.
UNC has been linked with several potential additions, including West Virginia forward James Okonkwo, who averaged 20.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in the previous season. Florida transfer Kowacie Reeves, who averaged 8.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, is another potential target. The Tar Heels have also shown interest in Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoyuri and Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero to bolster their frontcourt.
UNC's 2023-24 season will be an important period for the program to rebuild and address its roster needs. With a mix of returning players, incoming recruits, and strategic transfers, Coach Davis will aim to develop a competitive team that can contend for championships in the future.
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UNC's 2024-25 roster
The UNC Tar Heels' 2024-25 roster will see some changes from the previous season, with head coach Hubert Davis entering his fourth season with the team. The team's primary goal during the 2024 offseason was to find a replacement for Armando Bacot, a big man who was a key piece of the starting lineup in the previous season.
The transfer portal closed on May 1, 2024, and UNC managed to land three players: Ty Claude from Georgia Tech, Cade Tyson from Belmont, and Ven-Allen Lubin. Tyson, a 6-foot-7 wing, is known for his sharpshooting abilities, having been 15th nationally in three-point percentage at 46.5% in the previous season. However, he struggled in his first season with the Tar Heels, averaging only 2.6 points per game. Lubin, meanwhile, started as a bench player but grew into a comfortable starting role by February, regularly putting up double digits in scoring.
UNC also nearly added two players through the transfer portal: James Okonkwo and Seth Trimble. Both players initially entered the transfer portal, but Trimble ultimately pulled his name out and returned to UNC. Okonkwo, a 6-foot-8 forward, spent one season with UNC after transferring from West Virginia and played in 18 games.
The Tar Heels were in the market for a big man and had their sights set on Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoruyi, who visited the school. They were also interested in Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero and former Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins, but their availability for the college season depends on their NBA draft decisions. UNC also pursued Jordan Pope, a former Oregon State guard, and Aaron Bradshaw, a former five-star recruit from Kentucky.
UNC's roster for the 2024-25 season will feature a mix of returning players and new additions. The team will rely on increased production from junior Jalen Washington and fifth-year senior Jae'Lyn Withers to fill the gaps left by departures. They will also have three incoming freshmen joining the team, and coach Davis has three scholarships remaining to fill out the roster.
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How former UNC transfers have performed at their new destinations
The UNC basketball program has seen its fair share of player transfers in recent years, with varying levels of success at their new destinations. Here is a look at how some of these former UNC players have performed after transferring:
Walker Kessler
Walker Kessler, a former five-star prospect, spent just one season at UNC before transferring to Auburn for the 2021-22 season. At UNC, he averaged 4.4 points per game in limited playing time. However, at Auburn, Kessler became a key contributor, starting all 34 games and averaging 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per game, showcasing the improvement in his performance.
Caleb Love
Caleb Love, a former five-star recruit, played for three seasons at UNC and averaged 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He had a career year in his last season, averaging 16.7 points per game. Love initially committed to Michigan but later decommitted and is now committed to Arizona.
D'Marco Dunn
D'Marco Dunn, a former four-star recruit, spent two seasons at UNC before entering the transfer portal. He is now committed to Penn State, reuniting with former UNC teammate Puff Johnson.
Tyler Nickel
Tyler Nickel spent one season at UNC, averaging 2.1 points per game. He has since transferred to Virginia Tech, where he will continue his college basketball career.
Justin McKoy
Justin McKoy played for two seasons at UNC, averaging 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. He has committed to Hawaii for his next chapter.
Dontrez Styles
Dontrez Styles, a former four-star recruit, played for two seasons at UNC, averaging 1.4 points and one rebound per game in his final season. He has transferred to another program, but the specific destination is not mentioned.
While some players have found success at their new schools, others have faced challenges. It's important to note that success after transferring can depend on various factors, including playing time, coaching changes, and personal development. The transfer portal allows players to find new opportunities and programs to find the right pieces to fill their rosters.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2023, UNC basketball lost six players to the transfer portal, including guard Caleb Love, Dontrez Styles, Puff Johnson, Tyler Nickel, Will Shaver, and D'Marco Dunn.
In 2024, UNC basketball added West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell, Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar, and Virginia Tech transfer Jaydon Young. The team also lost players such as freshman guard Ian Jackson, Cade Tyson, and Seth Trimble to the transfer portal.
Hubert Davis is the head coach of the UNC Tar Heels.
The performance of former UNC basketball players who transferred has varied. For example, Andrew Platek's scoring average increased from 2.7 points per game at UNC to 9.5 points per game at Sienna University. On the other hand, Leaky Black's shooting percentage decreased from 53.5% at UNC to 45.8% at Mississippi State.
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