CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina junior forward Brandon Huffman will enter his name into the NCAA transfer portal, multiple sources confirmed to Inside Carolina on Thursday afternoon.

Huffman has a season of eligibility remaining as well as a potential redshirt year, if needed. The former Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) standout was limited to 14 games in 2019-20 due in part to a left knee injury that sidelined him late in the season, including the ACC Tournament in Greensboro.

The 6-foot-10, 255-pound forward, who turned 22 on April 2, played in 70 games during his UNC career. He averaged 1.4 points per game on 58 percent shooting and 1.1 rebounds per game.

Late Thursday evening, UNC released a statement from head coach Roy Williams:

“This is only our sixth transfer in 17 years, but it is always sad to see a situation where a young man leaves the program,” Williams said. "At the same time, I am always aware that being in another environment might work out better for a player, so I understand.

“Brandon is a fantastic young man who has helped our basketball program the past three years. I wish him nothing but the best. I have told Brandon and his father that I will do anything I can to help them choose the right school and program for him, and I will be there to support Brandon for the rest of his life.”

Brandon Huffman

The Goldsboro, N.C. native was a three-star prospect coming out of high school in a 2017 class in which the Tar Heels signed three big men. Huffman, who was ranked No. 193 in high school by the 247Sports Composite, chose the Tar Heels over offers from Clemson, Georgia Tech, Indiana, NC State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Tennessee, UConn, and Virginia Tech.

Huffman’s departure opens up a scholarship spot for UNC's 2020-21 basketball season -- a spot Roy Williams is likely to now try and fill. The Tar Heels will return seven scholarship players (Garrison Brooks, Andrew Platek, Sterling Manley, Leaky Black, Jeremiah Francis, Anthony Harris and Armando Bacot) and will welcome a five-man recruiting class (Walker Kessler, Day’Ron Sharpe, Caleb Love, Puff Johnson and R.J. Davis). Division I basketball programs are allowed to allot a maximum of 13 scholarships per school year.