Alabama transfer forward Jarin Stevenson, a Chapel Hill native, has committed to North Carolina out of the NCAA Transfer Portal, marking a homecoming for the 6-foot-11, 215-pound rising junior. Stevenson, who has two years of eligibility remaining, entered the transfer portal on April 9 with a “do not contact” tag, signaling that he likely already had a destination in mind. His destination has now been confirmed as North Carolina, where his mother, Nicole Walker Stevenson, was a standout player, winning three ACC championships with the Tar Heels from 1995-98.
During his two seasons at Alabama, Stevenson started 27 of 74 career games, including 22 starts in the 2024-25 season. In that season, he averaged 5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game, shooting 42.9% from the field and 31.2% from 3-point range. Over his entire Alabama career, Stevenson posted averages of 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game, while shooting 42.5% from the floor and 63.6% from the free-throw line.
Coming out of high school, Stevenson was a four-star recruit from Pittsboro, North Carolina, and was ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 4 power forward in the Class of 2023, and the No. 21 overall prospect according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Although North Carolina was initially considered the favorite to land him, Stevenson chose Alabama, where he played for coach Nate Oats.
North Carolina is looking to reload after a disappointing 2024-25 season. The Tar Heels barely made it into the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the Last Team In, but they were eliminated by Ole Miss in the opening round after a win in the First Four against San Diego State. With Stevenson’s commitment, the Tar Heels are bolstering their roster in hopes of a stronger campaign moving forward.
