Kanon Catchings Transfer News: Tar Heels Trending for Former BYU Star Ahead of Visit
The college basketball transfer portal grows hot. Former BYU forward Kanon Catchings now becomes a main target. Both Georgia and North Carolina seek him. He ended his visit with the Bulldogs without a firm commitment. This four-star prospect will visit the Tar Heels on Friday. CBS Sports analyst Travis Branham reports that North Carolina leads his recruitment.
Catchings is a flexible 6‑foot‑9 forward. He sits at No. 53 in the overall transfer rankings. He earns the spot as the No. 9 power forward this cycle. As a freshman in Provo, he showed his skill. He averaged 7.3 points and 2.2 rebounds in about 18 minutes per game. He impressed with his shooting. He hit 41.2% of his field shots and 35.5% from beyond the arc.
National basketball analyst Branham explains Catchings’ situation clearly. He points to strong ties with North Carolina’s new general manager Jim Tanner. As Catchings readies his visit to UNC, the Tar Heels aim to impress him. Georgia also made a solid case during his visit. Branham says that the timeline of the decision now favors North Carolina. If UNC does not add another player by the time Catchings arrives, he will most likely join the Tar Heels.
Basketball runs in the Catchings family. Kanon’s mother, Tauja, earned an all‑Big Ten spot at Illinois and became a first‑round WNBA draft pick. His aunt Tamika is a legend in the sport. She earned National Player of the Year honors at Tennessee. She became a ten‑time WNBA All‑Star and won four Olympic gold medals. Jim Tanner, who leads UNC’s basketball operations, once represented Tamika in her career.
Catchings got off to a strong start. At the beginning of the season, he played in BYU’s starting lineup. A knee injury on March 1 hurt his campaign. He played only briefly during the final part of the season. He appeared in one of BYU’s last seven games. He shone in a game against Baylor on January 28. In that game, he scored 23 points and hit every one of his eight shots. He went perfect for both field goals and three‑point tries.
Analyst Isaac Trotter shared his view on Catchings. He noted that although Catchings’ minutes have changed, his long‑range shooting stays near 35% on almost four attempts per game. Trotter sees much promise in his athleticism as a wing player. He also thinks that Catchings must improve other parts of his game to reach his high ceiling.
Catchings began as a top prospect. He was ranked No. 41 in the 2024 recruiting class. His path has grown complex with many changes. He first committed to Purdue in 2022. Later, he asked for his release. In his senior year, he signed with BYU.
As Catchings gets ready for his key visit to North Carolina, fans and coaches watch closely. The Tar Heels look to boost their lineup with this talented forward.
