North Carolina Transfer Luka Bogavac's Status Remains Uncertain.

When international transfer Luka Bogavac first arrived in Chapel Hill, the expectation was that he would simply be talented enough to crack the Tar Heels' starting five.

However, when the 22 year old from Montenegro started practicing with the team, the first impression that he left was that he could be even greater than that original expectation. The perception quickly shifted to Bogavac being a focal point for Carolina.

With the regular season opener just five days away, there's now uncertainty if Bogavac will be able to contribute at all. That's because UNC held a second exhibition on Wednesday night — a 95-53 home win over in-state HBCU Winston-Salem State — and Bogovac, again, was on the bench in street clothes and not allowed to participate.

The series of events surrounding Bogovac's situation, which reportedly is a university matter regarding his transcripts, has been bizarre to follow.

For some international players, gaining an American visa can be an issue when considering a transfer. Not for Bogavac, though. He has been enrolled in classes since the fall semester began in late August.

Historically, a more common hurdle for transfers has been the NCAA. Just ask former Tar Heel wide receiver Tez Walker. But once again, in the case of Bogavac, Davis confirmed last week that the NCAA had cleared him — and added that the team was "working on" making him available with the university.

Bogavac is expected to fill a void on the wing vacated by Drake Powell, who became just the third Tar Heel since 2019 to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft.

UNC was involved in the sweepstakes for California transfer Andrej Stojakovic, but he chose to commit to Illinois instead. This then prompted UNC to recruit Bogavac.

If Bogavac can't play, Alabama transfer and Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson is expected to be next in line. He overcame a five-turnover outing at BYU with no giveaways against WSSU — to along with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting and six rebounds — on Wednesday night.

UNC will open the regular season Monday against Central Arkansas. Tip-off from the Smith Center is set for 7 o'clock.