Alex Stepheson, a North Carolina basketball player, will leave school and transfer to a school nearer his Los Angeles home because of family health issues.
Stepheson, a 6-9 forward, missed two games in early January when he returned home because his father was ill. Stepheson declined after returning to UNC to reveal his father's illness.
Stepheson will have two seasons of eligibility left.
"My family is dealing with some health challenges at this time and as a result I have made the decision to transfer to be closer to home," Stepheson said in a statement released by UNC. "The two years I have spent as a Tar Heel have been great."
Stepheson has been granted a release from his grant-in-aid by UNC and is free to talk to any schools about transferring.
He averaged 4.4 points and 4.7 rebounds this season as a top frontcourt reserve in helping UNC reach the NCAA Final Four. He played in 74 UNC games in two seasons and scored 237 career points and grabbed 252 rebounds.
Stepheson is the first of what could be four defections from the UNC program. Three players with eligibility to return _ Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green _ have filed for early entry to the NBA Draft but left open the possibility of returning next season.
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