UNC Basketball: Justin McKoy on why he committed to Tar Heels

The UNC basketball program got a good one in sophomore transfer Justin McKoy, and he recently discussed his decision for the change in scenery.

Justin McKoy is a hard-nosed, defensive-minded sophomore forward that the Tar Heels will gladly trot out onto the court this year — and potentially the two after that — thanks to the new NCAA transfer rule that afforded him an extra year of eligibility and immediate playing time in 2021.

He left the University of Virginia after two years with the Cavaliers, most of which came in a reserve role. He played in 14 games as a freshman, logging a modest 7.4 minutes per game. He averaged just one point and one rebound per game, while shooting 38.5 percent from the floor. He showed marked improvement as a sophomore when he averaged 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting better than 48 percent. He also increased his efficiency at the free throw line by nearly 14 percent from year one to year two.

Fans wondered why McKoy made the decision to leave Virginia for North Carolina in the offseason, but he set the record straight in a recent interview with 247Sports’ Gregory Hall. McKoy put to rest any rumors or speculation that anything went wrong in Charlottesville, and noted the importance of first-year head coach Hubert Davis in his decision.

"“There’s nothing wrong with Virginia,” McKoy said. “I could have stayed and had a great career, but I just felt like it was time for a change-up. I needed a change of scenery. I needed to go somewhere where I felt like I would flourish more and I feel like UNC and Coach Davis can offer that. And that’s ultimately the reason why I left.”"

McKoy also expressed interest in spending less time down on the blocks, and expanding his game out to 15 feet and beyond. That’s something that he should be able to do in Davis’ offense, evidenced by the type of players that the Tar Heels went out and got this summer — namely Brady Manek and Dawson Garcia. Similar to them, McKoy should be able to play inside and out, and he also poses a problem for opposing players with his defensive prowess.

McKoy, who was victorious in all three of his previous games against the Tar Heels, has shown a propensity for playing stingy defense in the team’s early workouts and practices. He may not get the minutes of a Manek or Garcia in year one with the Tar Heels, but he figures to be a difference-maker when he is on the court; now, and in the years to come.

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