Seth Trimble Returns to College Ball Under New Rules; Transferring to Louisville

When Seth Trimble entered the transfer portal after his sophomore season, he tested the waters before ultimately returning to UNC men’s basketball. Fans rejoiced, cheering on the opportunity to see an up-and-coming player keep developing into a star for the Tar Heels. Across the following two seasons, Trimble, the younger brother of former Tar Heel J.P. Tokoto, did just that and was sent off in March with a big Senior Day celebration.

But now, Trimble is again hitting the transfer portal — and this time, he isn’t coming back to Chapel Hill.

The guard and Wisconsin native shared on his Instagram story Wednesday that under the NCAA’s new eligibility rules and a subsequent court ruling impacting Trimble’s graduating class, he will return to college basketball. With the UNC program having filled out its roster under new head coach Michael Malone, Trimble said he ultimately had to seek options elsewhere. ESPN’s Pete Thamel and other outlets reported Wednesday that the fifth-year guard will ultimately be headed to Louisville.

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“I’ve been considering returning to college the whole summer now,” Trimble wrote in his Instagram post, “and Carolina was always in the running, but with a full roster at UNC and other circumstances, I won’t be able to return home and will be transferring.

“Know that the love I have for this place is irreplaceable,” he added, “I will forever come back home and honor this place like I’ve done and like the ones before me do, I love you Carolina.”

Photo via Seth Trimble’s Instagram.

With Malone taking over for outgoing head coach Hubert Davis – the man who signed Trimble out of high school and coached him for his entire career – the Tar Heels moved aggressively in the offseason to replenish their backcourt after Trimble’s graduation. UNC signed guards Terrence Brown (from Utah) and Matt Able (from NC State) out of the transfer portal, both of whom project to be starters for Malone’s team.

During his senior season, Trimble’s star profile rose even higher as one of the few returning upperclassmen in the ACC. His game-winning, buzzer-beater three-pointer against No. 4 Duke on February 7 instantly became an iconic moment in the rivalry between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils, and Trimble scored a career-high 30 points against Louisville a few weeks later. He finished 2025-26 averaging 14 points per game, alongside 3 assists and 3.8 rebounds, all while playing a career high in minutes.

Trimble’s transfer to the Cardinals sets up what might be an emotional pair of games for both him and Carolina fans. Louisville is one of two teams UNC is slated to face twice as part of the ACC schedule, meaning Trimble will likely visit the Dean Smith Center and face Malone’s new-look roster in the winter.

There is still uncertainty as to whether Trimble will be able to suit up for the Cardinals at all. He signed a contract with the Washington Wizards of the NBA as an undrafted free agent and played in the Summer League, but prior to that had entered the NCAA transfer portal in order to position himself to return to college basketball should he be granted a fifth year of eligibility. The NCAA is currently appealing the court ruling for high school class of 2022 athletes. UNC’s roster is also affected by this legal process: the Tar Heels have a commitment from South Dakota center Cameron Fens, who is in the same class as Trimble.

Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward

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Seth Trimble Returns to College Ball Under New Rules; Transferring to Louisville

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