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UNC reserve big man finds new home in transfer portal
TL;DR
Zayden High, a reserve center for the UNC men's basketball team, has transferred to South Florida after two seasons in Chapel Hill. He made a notable impact during his time at UNC, including a career-high 15 points in a game against Pitt.
When the UNC men's basketball team watched Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar go down with injuries, they needed someone else to step up.
The most unlikely of sources, reserve center Zayden High became North Carolina's go-to post guy, even if just for a couple games.
After playing his 2023-24 and 2025-26 college basketball seasons in Chapel Hill, High will play his junior season in the Sunshine State, committing to South Florida on Wednesday afternoon.
High, who missed the 2024-25 campaign due to non-basketball matters, drew his first career start on Valentine's Day. Delivering a career-high 15 points in the Tar Heels' 79-65 victory over Pitt, High forced Hubert Davis to think about giving him additional minutes.
With Veesaar still out for the NC State game, High provided his first career double-double, pouring in 13 points and 10 rebounds during a 24-point loss. UNC looked overpowered throughout, but High shined as a lone bright spot.
High played decent minutes off the bench upon Veesaar's return, averaging double-digits in all games but losses to Clemson and VCU. Veesaar may return to North Carolina for his senior season, while Michael Malone is attracting additional transfer portal visits, so High isn't guaranteed to start.
In Tampa, High will join a USF program fresh off its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 14 seasons. The Bulls played Louisville close through their Round of 64 matchup in March, ultimately losing 83-79.
High has all the tools to be a successful big man, highlighted by his impressive rebounding ability. With an occasional 3-point shot, endless hustle and energy, High is exactly the type of player Bryan Hodgson needs to continue building his program.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Zayden High commits to South Florida in transfer portal
Q&A
Why did Zayden High transfer from UNC to South Florida?
Zayden High transferred to South Florida to continue his college basketball career after playing two seasons at UNC.
What were Zayden High's notable achievements at UNC?
Zayden High had a career-high 15 points in a game against Pitt and became a key player for UNC during a challenging season.
When did Zayden High commit to South Florida?
Zayden High committed to South Florida on Wednesday afternoon, following his time with the UNC Tar Heels.