In college athletics, you're not always going to get the player you want.
While fans would love for every top-tier player to commit to their school, it's simply unrealistic. As much as UNC basketball fans wanted to see Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic in Carolina Blue, they were once again disappointed to find out he committed to Illinois on Monday, shunning the Tar Heels for a third time.
Even though Stojakovic seemed to be the "big fish" the Tar Heels were pursing, it doesn't mean they haven't been looking at other options as well. In fact, shortly after Stojakovic's commitment to Illinois, new information surfaced about a transfer portal target who would make a lot of sense for the UNC basketball program.
Desmond Claude, a transfer from USC, is set to visit the Florida Gators on Thursday. While the 6-foot-6 junior has been linked to the Gators, Joe Tipton of On3 reported that he also is considering North Carolina, Kansas and Virginia in his recruitment.
Interesting.
USC transfer Desmond Claude, one of the top guards in the portal, is visiting Florida on Thursday, sources told @On3sports.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 28, 2025
Also considering North Carolina, Kansas, and Virginia, per source.
The 6-6 junior averaged 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this… pic.twitter.com/iXl0wKxmPS
Claude is coming off a strong junior season for the Trojans, a year in which he averaged 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. After starring at Xavier during the 2023-2024 season, Claude's success translated in his first (and likely lone) season at USC, so there should be no doubt that his game can translate to the ACC as well.
The New Haven, Connecticut native is a proven college starter who could help his next team in a variety of ways. He has the size to compete on the wing but the skill set to also play as an off-ball guard, which makes him a valuable asset for teams looking for depth in these areas.
As we all know, North Carolina is one of those programs.
While some reports indicate that the UNC basketball program is done adding talent via the transfer portal, don't necessarily believe that the Tar Heels are fully set on their roster for the 2025-2026 season. If a potential option is available and can help improve next year's squad, North Carolina will certainly be willing to bring them on board.