Newly appointed head coach Michael Malone is continuing to stamp his authority on North Carolina, and Luka Bogavac has become the latest Tar Heel to enter the transfer portal. The guard started 21 games in his freshman year with UNC.
Bogavac’s decision to enter the transfer portal comes just days after Malone began meeting with North Carolina players.
North Carolina Guard Enters Transfer Portal After Freshman Year
On Saturday, it was announced that Bogavac was entering the transfer portal after just one season with UNC. The news was shared by Jeff Goodman of “The Field of 68,” on social media.
North Carolina’s Luka Bogavac has entered the transfer portal, source told @TheFieldOf68.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 11, 2026
North Carolina’s Luka Bogavac has entered the transfer portal, source told @TheFieldOf68,” he wrote on X.
The news comes just a few days after Bogavac had said to 247Sports that he would be returning to UNC next season. He had also shared his excitement at playing under Malone. But now he looks set to line up for a different college next season.
Bogavac becomes the seventh North Carolina player to enter the transfer portal. Other UNC players in the portal include Derek Dixon, Jonathan Powell, Kyan Evans, Zayden High, Isaiah Denis, and James Brown. Jaydon Young had also entered the portal, but has since decided to stay with the Tar Heels.
Bogavac joined the Tar Heels last summer and made 33 appearances in his freshman year. He averaged 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He shot 40.2% from the field and 34.9% from beyond the three-point line.
The Montenegro native’s best performance of his freshman year came against Clemson last month, as he scored 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting. As a guard with decent shooting numbers, he is sure to attract some interest in the transfer portal.
MORE: College Basketball 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker: Complete List of Players Who Are Available
The North Carolina Tar Heels are going through a revamp after a disappointing season by the team’s high standards. After finishing fourth in the ACC, UNC was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, losing 78-82 to VCU.
Following the first-round exit, UNC parted ways with head coach Hubert Davis and appointed Malone as the team’s next head coach.
Malone, who won the NBA Championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023, is now preparing for his first season as a head coach in college basketball. He has moved quickly to retain the commitment of talented recruit Maximo Adams.
