Seth Trimble is taking his game to Louisville, and that means Chapel Hill will see him again next season - just in an ACC rival’s colors.
Trimble’s move gives Pat Kelsey another big-name addition for a Cardinals roster that already looks loaded. UNC and Louisville are scheduled to meet twice next season, so Trimble’s return to the Smith Center will come with a twist Tar Heel fans won’t miss.
Trimble said the decision came after weighing a possible return to college throughout the summer.
“I’ve been considering returning to college the whole summer now, and Carolina has always in the running,” Trimble said in an Instagram story. “But with a full roster at UNC, and other circumstances, I won’t be able to return home and will be transferring.”
He entered the transfer portal this spring, but his future was complicated by the NCAA eligibility ruling tied to Class of 2022 athletes. A ruling from U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a class-wide preliminary injunction ordering the NCAA to declare eligible all high school Class of 2022 athletes who had already exhausted four seasons of eligibility this spring.
That decision could still be overturned on appeal. If that happens, Trimble would likely pivot toward the Washington Wizards, with whom he signed an Exhibit 10 contract and played for in Summer League. He scored 24 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on July 15.
UNC coach Michael Malone said Trimble’s time in Chapel Hill left a lasting mark.
“Seth gave Carolina four years of tremendous effort, toughness and leadership and he has earned the respect and affection of Tar Heels everywhere,” UNC coach Michael Malone said. “I have tremendous empathy for Seth because the timing of the court decision put him and our program in a difficult position as we constructed our roster.
None of that changes how we feel about Seth. He has represented Carolina the right way, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to know him and his family.
Even though he will be playing elsewhere for one year, he will always be a Tar Heel.”
A return to UNC had become increasingly unlikely once the roster situation settled. The Tar Heels still had room, but their final opening went to former South Dakota center Cameron Fens, a move that addressed a need in the middle.
Carolina also has plenty of backcourt options, including Utah transfer Terrence Brown, Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas, N.C. State transfer Matt Able, Buffalo transfer Angelo Brizzi and returnee Isaiah Denis.
Had the court ruling arrived before Brizzi committed, Trimble might have found a spot in Chapel Hill.
Instead, he lands in a Louisville program that has been one of the busiest and most aggressive in the portal. According to 247Sports, the Cardinals own the No. 1 transfer class in the country this offseason. Trimble joins a group that already includes Flory Bidunga, the Kansas forward/center who entered the portal as the top overall transfer prospect, and Jackson Shelstad, the Oregon point guard ranked No. 18 overall and No. 4 among portal guards.
Arkansas wing Karter Knox, Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras, USC center Gabe Dynes and Dayton guard De’Shayne Montgomery are also part of that haul.
Louisville is keeping two scholarship players from a roster that lost 11 players this offseason: guards Adrian Wooley and London Johnson. Wooley arrived from Kennesaw State and averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a freshman there.
Kelsey’s staff also added a three-man freshman class, highlighted by five-star center Obinna Ekezie Jr. and four-star wing Boyuan Zhang. Between the newcomers and the holdovers, Louisville appears capable of going 10 or 11 deep with athleticism all over the floor.
Trimble’s college career at UNC ended with 971 points in 126 games, plus the kind of shot Tar Heel fans don’t forget: the last-second corner 3-pointer that beat Duke last season. His best scoring night came Feb. 23, when he put up 30 points in a 77-74 home win against Louisville.
In Other News...
South Carolinas Early Read On Neff Giwa Could Surprise Gamecocks Fans
Neff Giwas arrival in South Carolina football has already added a different kind of intrigue to the preseason mix. A former rugby player from Ireland, Giwa is working through his early practices with the Gamecocks and drawing notice for the athletic traits that helped get him here, while teammate Nolan Hay has been helping him learn the basics of the game as he settles into a new sport and a new system.
For a roster looking to find useful pieces wherever they can, Giwas development is worth watching even if his path is still in the early stages. Shane Beamer has pointed to his potential value, and the most immediate opening may come away from the offensive line rather than in a starting role, which makes the next few weeks a test of how quickly he can translate raw ability into something South Carolina can actually use. [Read more 🡒]
Gamecocks Defense Is Setting A Tone Fans Will Want To See
South Carolinas preseason camp has already started to develop a reputation for the kind of edge Shane Beamer would want carrying over into August and beyond. With the first scrimmage of the month set for Williams-Brice Stadium, players around the offense have been talking about how the defense is bringing a physical, competitive tone to practice, the sort of early camp energy that can sharpen both sides of the ball.
Offensive lineman Nolan Hay and tight ends Maurice Brown and Brady Hunt have each pointed to several defensive teammates who have stood out for their play and intensity. For a Gamecocks roster still sorting itself out in camp, that kind of internal pressure can be a good sign, especially if the defense keeps forcing the offense to match its level once the action moves into a more game-like setting. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina May Have An Under The Radar Answer At Safety
David Bucey has been one of the quieter names in South Carolinas preseason camp, but his rise has been hard to miss inside the program. Head coach Shane Beamer and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray have both pointed to Buceys toughness and steady development, and thats helped his standing as he pushes for a bigger defensive role. After spending the last two seasons mostly on special teams, he has already appeared in every game the Gamecocks have played over that stretch, which has made him a familiar and trusted piece in the lineup.
What makes Bucey worth watching now is how much more there appears to be on the table for him. His responsibilities have grown on both defense and special teams, and that broader workload suggests South Carolina sees a player ready for more than the niche role he has filled so far. With camp still sorting out the back end of the defense, Bucey has positioned himself as a legitimate option in the mix, and the coming weeks will show just how far that climb can go. [Read more 🡒]