Seth Trimble gives reasons for leaving UNC basketball to play at Louisville

Former UNC basketball guard Seth Trimble says he had “the best four years that anybody could ask for” with the Tar Heels, but he plans on using a fifth year of eligibility to play at Louisville. 

First reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel in the early-morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 12, Trimble is set to suit up for the Cardinals following a Colorado district court ruling that granted the 2022 class an additional year of eligibility. The NCAA is appealing the decision. 

“Carolina, I've had the best four years that anybody could ask for. Through thick and thin, I gave my absolute all and represented this university and that jersey every single day because this place means the world to me,” Trimble wrote in an Instagram post. 

“And l'll continue to represent this university for the rest of my life. I've been considering returning to college the whole summer now, and Carolina was always in the running, but with a full roster at UNC, and other circumstances, I won't be able to return home and will be transferring.” 

As Trimble alluded to in his social media post, the Tar Heels have presumably filled out their roster and allocated their NIL resources to other players on the perimeter ahead of Michael Malone’s debut season in Chapel Hill. 

That new-look guard group is headlined by Utah transfer Terrence Brown Jr., Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas and N.C. State transfer Matt Able. Jaydon Young and Isaiah Denis are returners for the Tar Heels. 

After averaging 14 points and 3.8 assists in his final season at UNC, Trimble entered the transfer portal on April 20 to open up the possibility to play a fifth year of college basketball. 

He then spent the NBA Summer League with the Washington Wizards and also owns a Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream shop on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. UNC is scheduled to face Louisville twice in the 2026-27 season as part of the 18-game ACC schedule.

“Know that the love I have for this place is irreplaceable,” Trimble said. “I will forever come back home and honor this place like I've done and like the ones before me do, I love you Carolina.” 

Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Seth Trimble gives reasons for leaving UNC basketball to play at Louisville