Three days after losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, North Carolina lost a promising young player. Freshmen Walker Kessler announced Monday morning that he was leaving UNC.
“He loves North Carolina, he loves the University, he loves his teammates. He fell in love with the school that runs down Franklin Street, so it was just a basketball decision,” a source close to Kessler told Inside Carolina.
The decision was finalized after a source said on Sunday night that there was an emotional encounter between Kessler, his father and Roy Williams.
“While this season has not gone according to plan for our entire basketball community, the relationships I was able to develop this year will forever mean the world to me,” Kessler said in a statement. “It is my honor to have played for a wonderful historical program such as the University of North Carolina. Gratitude is all I feel for my teammates, coaches, coaches, administration and staff. During a very difficult year for all of us “they were able to help me grow as a player and above all as a person. After careful and calculated consideration, I will enter the transfer portal. I wish the entire Carolina family the best in the years to come. Thank you Tar Heel Nation!”
Kessler averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 8.7 minutes from the bench this season. The 7-foot-1-born Newnan, Ga., Faced developmental barriers during his lonely year in Chapel Hill in the form of quarantine absences, knee pain and a loaded depth chart.
“I think, guys, what people do not realize is that this young man had 14 days of close contact quarantines and that he never tested positive,” UNC head coach Roy Williams said last month. The second piece of 14 days was the two weeks right before the exercise began. And so he missed the time before the exercise started … His knees gave him problems. I told him he might still be growing. ”
It undoubtedly played a role in the start of the fourth season by Kessler under UNC’s four-man position behind Garrison Brooks, Armando Bacot and Day’Ron Sharpe. Although it took longer than expected for Kessler to take on a bigger role in the rotation, he averaged 8.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 15.5 minutes over the last ten games of the season, which showed its great potential in two outstanding performances.
In a crucial game at the end of February against Florida 11, Kessler’s 20 points (on 9-of-10 shooting), eight rebounds and four blocks play a big role in the UNC overcoming a 16-point deficit . The performance led to Kessler receiving ACC Freshman of the Week honors.
“I love it for the kid because he beats himself, but he cares,” Williams said of Kessler after the FSU won. ‘And I’ve said many, many times, give me a child who cares, it’s a child who’s really going to get better. To answer the question, he has gotten better. ‘
Two weeks later, Kessler posted 16 points (7-for-11 from the field), 12 rebounds, eight blocks and two stolen games against Notre Dame in UNC’s ACC tournament against Notre Dame. The block total set a Carolina ACC tournament record and an ACC tournament first-year record for blocks.
The consensus player of the year in Georgia, a McDonald’s All-American, and the no. 22 in high school in 2020 according to the 247Sports Composite, Kessler was a major addition – literally – to a six-man Carolina recruiting class that was second in the country. He picks UNC over finalists Auburn, Cal, Duke, Gonzaga and Michigan. His brother, father and uncle all played basketball for the University of Georgia.
“They showed a bunch of Luke Maye movies and said, ‘This is literally how we’re going to use you,'” Kessler said when he joined UNC in September 2019. “They said I was a bigger Luke Maye,” that’s how we want to use you. “Being a big one who can shoot and stretch the floor was very attractive. ”
Kessler did not showcase that perimeter match during his freshman season. Most of his manufactured baskets (58% FG) were up close – he tried four three-pointers this season – and he struggled from the free throw line (54%).
“I just think that once I get more comfortable, I’m fine,” Kessler said late in the season. ‘And I think I’ll be able to stretch the floor. I know I will be able to stretch the floor. I think I will be able to drive more. Clearly, it did not present itself very well. I think I’m not really a big bruiser, but I’m racing really hard, so I can just get rumbling again, pressure, stuff like that. And I really think I have a lot of skills that have not really been shown yet. I think I’m more skilled than anything. ‘