In a college basketball offseason expected to have more player movement through the transfer portal than ever before, the UNC men’s program landed its first transfer on Saturday.

Justin McKoy, a sophomore who played with Virginia the last two seasons, shared his plans to transfer to Carolina on social media. The 6-foot-8 Cary native becomes the first player to join the program since UNC hired Hubert Davis on Monday to becomes its new head coach.

In nearly 14 minutes per game with the Cavaliers this past season, McKoy averaged 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds. He shot more than 48 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range and 80 percent on free throws.

The Carolina men’s program recruited McKoy out of high school, when he played at Panther Creek High in Cary and finished his four-year stint as the school’s all-time leading scorer.

The addition of McKoy, who is listed as a forward, strengthens a Tar Heels front court with an unclear future going into the 2021-2022 season. Two players who saw frequent minutes this last year announced intentions to leave the university through the transfer portal, senior Garrison Brooks and freshman Walker Kessler, as well as reserves Walker Miller and Sterling Manley. Freshman Day’Ron Sharpe officially left the program to enter the NBA Draft, while sophomore Armando Bacot is testing the draft process.

 

Photo via ACC Media.

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