UNC Basketball: Walker Kessler to transfer to Auburn

After some speculation that he might change his mind, UNC Basketball freshman Walker Kessler is indeed on his way out of Chapel Hill.

Just a week after new head coach Hubert Davis publicly said that he and the UNC Basketball program wanted Kessler back with the program despite his decision to transfer, the 7-foot freshman has made up his mind. Kessler announced on Monday night via Instagram that he’s heading to Auburn to play with Bruce Pearl and the Eagles beginning this upcoming season.

Here is the message he posted, ending his time in Chapel Hill with the Tar Heels after just one season:

Auburn was one of Kessler’s finalists before he ended up picking UNC a few years back following an official visit to Chapel Hill. So there was no surprise that they would be in the mix once again for him in his new recruitment.

The news is disappointing for UNC fans as there was rumblings that he would consider coming back for another year with the Tar Heels. That was especially the case after Day’Ron Sharpe and Armando Bacot have decided to test the NBA Draft waters and senior Garrison Brooks announcing he’s entering the transfer portal.

But with Kessler’s decision, UNC now doesn’t have a starting big man which puts a little wrench into Davis’ offseason.

In his one season in Chapel Hill, Kessler averaged 4.4 points, and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 57.8 percent from the field. He came off the bench as the fourth guy in UNC’s big man rotation behind Bacot, Brooks and Sharpe. Kessler did flash his potential with a huge game against Florida State as the Tar Heels rallied from double-digits down to upset the Seminoles. He has a promising career ahead of him and should be a fit for Auburn’s offense.

For more on the UNC Basketball program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.