There could be more former Tar Heels playing for other colleges next season than in the NBA

By R.L. Bynum

It’s another example of the transfer portal’s significant impact on college basketball to realize that there might be more former Tar Heels playing for other colleges next season than in the NBA.

Potentially, 10 former UNC players could be playing for other colleges next season, and only eight are locks to make NBA rosters.

Six players are transferring off of last season’s Carolina team. In addition, other former Tar Heels likely to play in college next season are guard Jeremiah Francis (Division II Emmanuel College as a senior), forward Dawson Garcia (Minnesota as a junior) and guard Kerwin Walton (Texas Tech as a senior).

If Anthony Harris resolves his academic issues at Rhode Island, or goes to another school, that would be 10 players.

Tyler Nickel will play at Virginia Tech next season, but Caleb Love, Dontrez Styles, Justin McKoy, Puff Johnson and Will Shaver haven’t announced their plans.

According to On3.com, Love, who grew up in St. Louis, is favored to transfer to home-state Missouri over Indiana. Love reportedly has a Zoom meeting scheduled with Indiana, but the NCAA recruiting dead period doesn’t end until noon Thursday.

On3.com reported that Styles visited N.C. State last weekend and will visit Georgetown on Thursday, and he expects to make a transfer announcement on Sunday. Among the other schools interested in Styles are East Carolina and Clemson.

Johnson has heard from several schools, including Kentucky, Indiana and Pittsburgh.

The only former UNC players who are locks to make NBA rosters next season (with current teams listed) are Orlando guard Cole Anthony, Sacramento guard Harrison Barnes, Dallas guard Reggie Bullock, Brooklyn forward Cameron Johnson, Utah center Walker Kessler, Portland forward Nassir Little, Brooklyn center Day’Ron Sharpe and Chicago guard Coby White.

With Danny Green getting little playing time with the Cleveland Cavaliers after recovering from offseason knee surgery and turning 36 in June, it’s unclear whether he’ll be back for another season.

Justin Jackson, Garrison Brooks, Tony Bradley and Theo Pinson hope to make NBA rosters, but there’s no guarantee for those four.

Jackson started the season as a reserve for the Boston Celtics but finished it in the G League for the Texas Legends. Brooks played the entire season with the G League’s Westchester Knicks.

The Chicago Bulls waived Tony Bradley on Feb. 21, and he hasn’t signed with another team. Pinson is finishing his second season as a little-used reserve for the Dallas Mavericks and will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. But his presence as a positive force in the locker room could earn him a third season.

Pete Nance hopes to join his brother in the NBA. Larry Nance Jr. is finishing his seventh NBA season with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Some say Leaky Black can earn a spot on an NBA roster because of his defense.

UNC roster

No.ClassPlayerPos.HgtWgt
Returnees
4Sr.RJ DavisPG6–0180
7Soph.Seth TrimblePG6–3195
13Soph.Jalen Washington46–10230
55th yearArmando Bacot56–11240
Transfer newcomers
35th yearCormac Ryan (Notre Dame)36–5195
85th yearPaxson Wojcik (Brown)36–5195
55JuniorHarrison Ingram (Stanford)36–7235
32JuniorJames Okonkwo (West Virginia)46–8240
24SeniorJae’Lyn Withers (Louisville)46–9215
ESPN rankFreshmen
210 (Class
of 2024)
Elliot Cadeau (5 star)PG6–1180
164 (Class
of 2023
Zayden High (4 star)46–9225
Walk-ons
14Creighton LeboPG6–1180
22Rob Landry26–4190
34Dewe Farris46–7210
Eligibility over
Leaky Black36–9205
Pete Nance46–11230
Players who transferred out
Caleb Love (Arizona)26–4200
D’Marco Dunn (Penn State)36–5190
Dontrez Styles (Georgetown)46–6210
Tyler Nickel (Va. Tech)36–7220
Justin McKoy (Hawaii)46–8220
Puff Johnson (Penn State)36–8200
Will Shaver (UAB)56–10260
ESPN rank2024–25 freshman class
12Drake Powell (5 star)26–5185
17Ian Jackson (5 star)26–4180
68James Brown (4 star)56–8225

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