First-year forward Walker Kessler announced his intentions to leave the UNC men’s basketball program and enter the transfer portal in the offseason

Kessler, who came off the bench for Carolina during this season, shared a message across his social media accounts Monday morning with his decision.

“Gratitude is all I feel for my teammates, coaches, trainers, administration and staff,” Kessler wrote. “During a very difficult year for all of us, they were able to help me to grow as a player and most importantly as a person.”

Inside Carolina reports a meeting between Kessler, his father and head coach Roy Williams on Sunday evening finalized the choice.

The 7-foot-1 forward from Newnan, Georgia, averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in limited minutes for the Tar Heels over the 2020-2021 season, appearing in all of the team’s games. A former five-star recruit, Kessler will be eligible to play immediately with whatever program he chooses.

UNC men’s basketball saw its season end on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, as the #9 seed Wisconsin beat the #8-seeded Tar Heels 85-62. The program finished the season with an 18-11 record and sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Kessler becomes the eighth recruit to transfer from the Carolina men’s basketball program during Williams’ 18-year coaching tenure. The team saw two transfers last offseason, as Jeremiah Francis and Brandon Huffman both left UNC for New Mexico and Jacksonville State, respectively.

 

Photo via Dennis Nett.

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