UNC Basketball: Former Tar Heels’ target enters transfer portal

UNC Basketball head coach Hubert Davis has already found success in the transfer portal by landing two players this offseason in Brady Manek and Justin McKoy. Despite losing Walker Kessler, Garrison Brooks and Walker Miller, UNC is hoping to reload and put together a contender for his first year as head coach.

And Davis has another potential opportunity to go back to the transfer portal and add another piece.

Former UNC recruiting target and current Marquette power forward Dawson Garcia announced on Friday that he was entering the transfer portal:

Garcia spent just one season with the Golden Eagles after committing to the program back in 2019. He picked Marquette over offers from UNC, Minnesota, Indiana, Kansas, and Memphis among others. 

In addition to entering the transfer portal, Garcia is still leaving the door open to a return to Marquette. He’s also continuing on with the NBA draft process, participating in the G-League Elite Camp in Chicago.

Garcia averaged 13 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field in his first season with Marquette. But UNC fans know him well as he scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Marquette’s win over the Tar Heels last season in Chapel Hill.

There’s no doubt that Garcia can be a good addition to UNC’s roster with the ability to stretch the floor at the forward position. He’s a really good shooter and can contribute on the boards which would allow Armando Bacot more opportunities at center. But with the addition of Manek out of Oklahoma, would Davis go after Garcia? I have to imagine Garcia wants to start and if Manek is comfortable playing solid minutes off the bench, it makes sense to bring in Garcia.

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