UNC Basketball: Andrew Platek enters NCAA transfer portal

The former UNC basketball guard is now looking for a new home to play out his final year of collegiate eligibility.

After graduating from the University of North Carolina in the spring, it was looking as if Andrew Platek was ready to pursue professional opportunities, whether on or off the court.

However, Platek threw a curveball at us on Tuesday evening, as he officially entered the NCAA transfer portal. This news was first reported by Verbal Commits on Twitter, and was shortly after confirmed by Brendan Marks of The Athletic.

This is a surprise move from the former UNC basketball guard, as it appeared as if his days as a student-athlete were over. However, maybe a recent stretch of basketball could’ve changed Platek’s thought process on the matter.

Over the summer, Platek remained very active on the basketball court. The former Tar Heel dominated for his summer league team, earning Most Valuable Player honors. He put up a few tremendous shooting games in which he shot the basketball at an incredibly high level, and even had a 50-point performance during that span.

Could this summer league performance have made Platek have second thoughts about his basketball career? Who knows? What we do know is that this was a very shocking and late decision from the former Tar Heel.

For starters, Platek was never expected to return to Chapel Hill. After four seasons with the program, it was anticipated that the veteran guard’s time at North Carolina was complete. With the Tar Heels already back on campus, and the roster essentially set, a reunion always seemed incredibly low.

Platek could have followed some of his former Tar Heel teammates and entered the transfer portal right after the conclusion of last season. However, Platek waited, and is now behind in the entire process.

It remains to be seen just what type of interest Platek draws. With the majority of programs having their rosters close to being finalized, options may be limited for a guard like Platek, who has limited eligibility remaining.

This will be an interesting story line to keep an eye on over the next couple of weeks. The question remains: Can Andrew Platek find a new home before the start of the new college basketball season?

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates regarding Andrew Platek, and the UNC basketball program.