UNC Loses Former 4-Star Recruit to South Florida

Zayden High departs Chapel Hill for bigger role with Bulls

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:17pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style illustration depicting the silhouette of a basketball player broken down into geometric shapes in shades of blue, conceptually representing the transfer of a highly-touted recruit from one program to another.A former top recruit's departure from a powerhouse program highlights the constant flux of college basketball rosters.Tar Heel Today

Former North Carolina forward Zayden High has announced his commitment to transfer to the University of South Florida, leaving the Tar Heels program after one season.

Why it matters

Transfers are common in college basketball, as players seek more playing time or a better fit. High was a highly-touted recruit, so his departure is a notable loss for the UNC program.

The details

High, a former 4-star recruit, played limited minutes as a freshman at North Carolina last season. He has now decided to join the University of South Florida, where he hopes to earn a larger role on the team.

  • High played one season at North Carolina in 2025-26.
  • High announced his transfer to South Florida on April 16, 2026.

The players

Zayden High

A former 4-star recruit who played one season at the University of North Carolina before transferring to the University of South Florida.

Michael Malone

The head coach of the University of North Carolina men's basketball team.

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The takeaway

High's transfer highlights the competitive nature of college basketball, where players constantly seek the best fit and opportunity to showcase their skills. UNC will need to reload its roster after this loss.