Jarin Stevenson’s Emotional Return: Alabama Transfer Joins Tar Heels
Jarin Stevenson returns to his roots. He transfers to North Carolina after two seasons at Alabama Crimson Tide. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony broke the news on Sunday. The Chapel Hill native shows clear local ties. His strong potential makes this move even more special.
He stands at 6-foot-11 and weighs 215 pounds. Stevenson entered the transfer portal on Wednesday. He now seeks a fresh start near home. He left his hometown for Alabama. At Alabama, he made a clear impact. He started 27 of 74 games. He averaged 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds. His defense earned praise as he worked hard. He mostly shot from far away. Two-thirds of his shots were beyond the arc. In two seasons, he sank 63 threes at a 31.2 percent rate.
Stevenson becomes the fourth transfer for the Tar Heels this offseason. He joins newcomers Jonathan Powell from West Virginia, Henri Veesaar from Arizona, and Kyan Evans from Colorado State.
North Carolina coaches chased Stevenson in high school. Head coach Hubert Davis offered him a scholarship in 2021. Being close to Chapel Hill, he watched many UNC games. He recorded an official visit in May 2023. Yet, a month later, he chose Alabama. Now, he seems ready to re-evaluate that decision.
At Alabama, Stevenson faced the Tar Heels twice. In both games, North Carolina won. During his sophomore season game in Chapel Hill, he scored six points, grabbed three rebounds, and blocked a shot. In their 2024 Sweet 16 game, he did not score but added four rebounds and one assist. These numbers show his all-around skills.
"I watched quite a bit of North Carolina basketball — I was 10 minutes away from their campus — so I watched quite a bit," Stevenson stated before last season’s clash. "I know a lot of their coaches, a lot of their players. Yeah, it’s definitely surreal, just a full-circle moment for sure playing North Carolina."
Alabama coach Nate Oats praised Stevenson’s defense. He highlighted how Stevenson limited UNC star R.J. Davis. "His athleticism to guard — I’m guessing maybe you watched our game when we played at Carolina earlier this year," Oats said. "He did as good a job as anybody on RJ Davis when we beat Carolina at Carolina. He is capable of being one of the elite two-way players in the country."
Stevenson had strong moments at Alabama. In his freshman season, he scored a season-high 19 points against Clemson and knocked down five three-pointers. Last season, he reached a high of 22 points in a win over Texas.
"Jarin is the same age (now) as a freshman," Oats remarked. "I think he made a big jump. I don’t think he fears the moment at all. We just need to fill him with confidence."
Stevenson comes from a strong basketball family with deep UNC ties. His mother, Nicole, played for the Tar Heels from 1995 to 1998. His father, Jarod, played at Richmond before a long professional career overseas. Jarod also coached Jarin at Seaforth High School.
Now, Jarin Stevenson returns home. He wants to sharpen his skills and make a strong impact on the Tar Heels. His return brings both talent and a familiar passion for the game in Chapel Hill.
