By ADAM ZAGORIA
North Carolina transfer Jeremiah Francis is headed to New Mexico and will apply for an NCAA waiver to play immediately in 2020-21.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound guard committed to the Lobos on Friday. Assistant Brandon Mason was the lead recruiter.
“Just the bond that I created with the coaches over there during this transfer process,” he said. “I just believe it’s the best opportunity for me. I just want to go in there and lead them to some wins and I believe this is the opportunity for me.”
After missing his final two years of high school basketball with left knee injuries, Francis was limited to 16 games this season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.4 steals per game as a freshman at UNC. He plans to apply for a waiver to play immediately.
“I’m possibly working on a waiver right now with North Carolina,” he said. “So I think the NCAA should allow me to play next year.”
He joins a recruiting class that includes 6-6 junior college guard Saquan Singleton; former Mississippi State signee Bayron Matos-Garcia, a 6-8 center; 6-6 guard Nolan Dorsey from North Carolina; 6-6 small forward Javonte Johnson out of Colorado; and 7-foot center Assane N’Diaye out of Kilgore (TX) College. They also have top-70 small forward JB White committed in 2021.
“Just being a point guard, just letting me play, being a floor general and the leader that I am,” Francis said of his role. “They see all those things in me and I believe I can lead this team to some wins.”
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