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Caleb Love enters transfer portal: 3 best transfer destinations for UNC star

By Cody Williams

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 25: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels points during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers on February 25, 2023 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 71-63. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 25: Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels points during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers on February 25, 2023 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 71-63. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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Caleb Love transfer destinations
Rick Pitino, St. John’s Red Storm (Photo by Porter BInks ) /

UNC Tar Heels star Caleb Love has entered the transfer portal but where could the North Carolina standout land for the 2023-24 season?

When Hubert Davis got the good word that UNC basketball would be getting back Armando Bacot and R.J. Davis for the 2023-24 season, the Tar Heels fans across the country were then awaiting the decision of Caleb Love. And as expected, the 2022 Final Four hero is now headed elsewhere.

On Monday, love announced on social media that he will be leaving North Carolina and entering the transfer portal.

Love was heavily ridiculed — to unseemly degrees at the end of this past disappointing season — by the Tar Heels fan base over his inconsistency, despite his heroics in March Madness that took UNC within minutes of a title in the 2021-22 season. Thus, it was not shocking to see him look for a fresh start.

Now that the former 5-star recruit is transferring and looking for a new home, though, where could he end up? Let’s take a look at some potential destinations that would make sense for Caleb Love in the transfer portal.

Caleb Love transfer rumors: 3 best destinations for UNC star

Rick Pitino could make a big St. John’s splash by landing Caleb Love

Of the three Caleb Love transfer destinations that are on the table for us here, the St. John’s Red Storm is the one program that didn’t initially recruit the St. Louis native coming out of high school. But, of course, what stands out about the Big East program trying to find its way again is that they didn’t have the legendary (and infamous) Rick Pitino at the helm at that time.

Pitino was hired by the Red Storm this offseason after three seasons with the Iona Gaels and his resumé speaks for itself, whether it was his success at Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, or even at Iona. The man wins basketball games, albeit with plenty of off-court controversy accompanying those wins along the way.

Now that he’s in New York and back in the Big East, though, the St. John’s roster will need a boost to compete in one of college basketball’s best conferences. Pitino has already been hot on the high school recruiting trail but, for year one, the transfer portal is going to be key.

It remains to be seen if Love would be interested in a move up to New York to join the Red Storm and Pitino, but the fit would make a ton of sense. An established star with even more upside than he’s already shown would be a great addition for the new head coach and, more importantly, would be a good start in elevating the program immediately.