UNC transfer Walker Kessler commits to Auburn

(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

North Carolina transfer Walker Kessler is headed to the SEC, but he will not be signing with Kentucky. Instead, the former McDonald’s All-American center will play for Bruce Pearl at Auburn, he announced this afternoon.

“I am excited to play for a great coach at an awesome school and be close to home and my family. War Eagle!” Kessler announced on his Instagram page. 

 

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A post shared by Walker Kessler (@kidkessler)

Kessler, a 7-foot-1 center out of Fairburn, GA, chose Auburn over the likes of Gonzaga, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. He also considered a return to North Carolina under new coach Hubert Davis, who publicly recruited the freshman big man back to Chapel Hill.

As a freshman, Kessler averaged only 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest, but finished the season on a high note, scoring in double figures in five of the Tarheels’ last ten games, including a 16-point, 12-rebound, 8-block performance vs. Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament. The former five-star center was ranked No. 22 overall in the 2020 recruiting class (247 Sports Composite) and originally chose UNC over Duke, Auburn, and Michigan.

As of last week, Kentucky was “firmly in the mix” for the standout center, per Dan McDonald of Rivals.com.

“I’m told Kentucky is firmly in the mix for UNC transfer Walker Kessler,” McDonald reported on April 5. “Auburn, Gonzaga, Michigan and Tennessee are some of the others in the mix for the former 5-star.”

I'm told #Kentucky is firmly in the mix for #UNC transfer Walker Kessler. Auburn, Gonzaga, Michigan and Tennessee are some of the others in the mix for the former 5-star prospect. pic.twitter.com/FqZsDARntI

— Dan McDonald (@RivalsDan) April 5, 2021

Kentucky was also floated as a potential option for the former McDonald’s All-American when he originally put his name in the portal, with UNC beat writer Brendan Marks grouping UK in with Auburn and Gonzaga for his services.

“Per sources, Auburn, Gonzaga and Kentucky will be in the mix for Kessler,” Marks said at the time.

Despite the strong interest, Kessler will instead head to one of Kentucky’s top competitors in the SEC.