UNC 7-footer Walker Kessler enters transfer portal
Walker Kessler, a 7-foot-1 freshman center for North Carolina, announced through his Twitter account Monday that he will not be returning for his sophomore season. He’s entering the transfer portal.
The Newnan, Ga., native appeared in all 29 games for the Heels this season and averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds. Kessler only averaged 8.7 minutes per game and never started, but in the last 11 games became a valuable part of the frontcourt rotation.
“After careful and calculated consideration, I will be entering the transfer portal,” Kessler wrote in his post. “I wish the entire Carolina family the best in the years ahead.”
The NCAA is expected to approve a one-time transfer waiver that will allow immediate eligibility for players. The line of possible suitors for Kessler figures to be long based on the potential he showed this season.
Kessler had a streak of four straight games scoring in double figures that culminated with arguably his best game of the season: 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks in a 78-70 home win over Florida State.
He nearly became the third player in UNC history to record a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks in the team’s 101-59 ACC tournament win over Notre Dame.
UNC coach Roy Williams said after their Feb. 27 win over the Seminoles that Kessler’s progress was slowed in the fall when he was twice forced to quarantine due to contact tracing. The second quarantine, which was for 14 days, overlapped with the start of practice.
“He just got the bad start to our season, missing 14 days right before we start playing, it’s tough,” Williams said at the time. “And at that same time, his shot wasn’t going in as much as it used to and he started worrying about that. But I love kids that worry they show you that they care. And this is a kid that cares.”
Kessler’s exit could be the first of more for Carolina. Freshman forward Day’Ron Sharpe could be deciding between staying or declaring for the NBA draft.
This story was originally published March 22, 2021 at 10:58 AM with the headline "UNC 7-footer Walker Kessler enters transfer portal."