UNC Basketball: Walker Kessler gets specific about reason for leaving

Former UNC basketball standout Walker Kessler spoke specifically about the reason he left the Tar Heels following his freshman season.

Walker Kessler unexpectedly left the University of North Carolina shortly after the Tar Heels’ first round NCAA Tournament loss to the Wisconsin Badgers.

He entered the NCAA transfer portal with a who’s who list of schools looking to get their hands on one of the nation’s top young bigs, but it was Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers that ultimately lured him in over the likes of Duke, Gonzaga, Kentucky and others.

We never got a great answer from Kessler at the time of his departure as to why he left, though we figured that playing time and scheme likely played a part. But in a recent interview with former Tar Heel point guard turned analyst KJ Smith, Kessler opened up about his abrupt departure from Chapel Hill, and why he chose not to return to UNC despite Hubert Davis’ best efforts.

"“The pandemic affected a lot of people in many different ways,” Kessler told Smith, On3Sports’ newest member. For me, I just realized I wanted to be closer to home.”"

And while it’s distance from family and proximity to home that Kessler highlights as his reason for leaving, I have to believe that the lack of playing time behind a trio of other bigs, along with the scheme that didn’t allow him to play the way that he prefers, had quite a bit to do with his decision to leave. After all, the former 5-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American averaged a modest 8.8 minutes per game, and shot just four three-pointers in 29 appearances last season.

He’ll presumably have the opportunity to play more face-up basketball and fire off a lot of outside shots in Pearl’s system at Auburn, along with being much closer to his hometown in Fairburn, Georgia.

Kessler did note during his interview with Smith that he wants Tar Heel fans to know that there are no hard feelings between him and the UNC coaching staff, and that he hopes they will continue to cheer him on as he continues his career elsewhere.

We’ll certainly check in on Kessler from time to time next season, and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the UNC basketball program.