Ex-North Carolina guard Caleb Love entered the transfer portal in late March. After committing to Michigan in early April, Love reversed course (reportedly due to an admissions issue with credits transferring) and re-entered the portal on May 17.
Then on Tuesday (5/30), he committed to Arizona and will join the Wildcats’ backcourt for the 2023-24 campaign. Love, ESPN’s No. 1 overall player in the portal, has two years of eligibility remaining if he chooses to use them.
“Caleb is a tremendously talented guard who has significant experience playing college basketball at a high level,” Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said in a press release. “We look forward to helping Caleb grow his game at Arizona. And as we near the completion of the roster for the upcoming season, we feel great about how everything has come together. Now it’s time for the real work to start.”
The former Tar Heel started 95 of 101 games across three seasons in Chapel Hill. He was a star in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, leading UNC to the finals before losing to Kansas.
Love dropped 30 points on UCLA in a dramatic comeback win in the Sweet 16. Then in a Final Four victory over Duke, he scored 28 points.
The 6-foot-4 St. Louis product was a five-star prospect coming out of high school. As a true freshman, Love averaged 10.5 points and 3.6 assists per game.
His production increased as a sophomore when Love averaged 15.9 points, and 3.6 APG. Instead of turning pro, he returned along with three other starters in hopes of a Final Four return.
However, UNC didn’t even make the Tournament and turned down an NIT bid after starting the season as the No. 1 team in the country. Love averaged 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Love is Arizona’s third four-star transfer to be added from the portal, joining former San Diego St. forward Keshad Johnson and ex-Alabama guard Jaden Bradley. The Wildcats also have two incoming freshmen in four-star forward KJ Lewis and 7-foot-2 Lithuanian center Motlejust Krivas.