Two University of North Carolina basketball players are transferring following the hiring of ex-Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
UNC stunned the sports world on Monday with the hiring of the NBA champion head coach. Malone, who has won more than 500 NBA games, will take over for Hubert Davis, who was ousted following an NCAA Tournament first round loss to VCU.
"Mike is a terrific coach and a terrific guy," Mike Kzyzewski said on "The Pat McAfee Show."
"There's a learning curve… Maybe they (UNC) are changing, they now have two pro coaches coaching in college. The infrastructure of their athletic department, is it now gonna become more of a pro organization? I think everybody should be doing that, and the fact that he knows how to do that and so does coach (Bill) Belichick, maybe that's a sign that they're moving in that direction organizationally."
© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
But in the wake of Malone's hiring, two UNC players have decided to enter the NCAA's transfer portal.
Two UNC players enter transfer portal
North Carolina guard Kyan Evans is transferring. He started 17 games for the Tar Heels after transferring in from Colorado State last season.
ESPN's Jeff Borzello broke the news.
North Carolina forward Zayden High is also transferring. High filled in for an injured Caleb Wilson down the stretch in 2025-26. He had 13 points and 10 rebounds in a win over N.C. State.
More than 1,000 college basketball players have entered the NCAA's transfer portal on the men's side - and it only opened up at midnight.
It's shaping up to be a wild offseason.
