UNC Basketball Player Was Kicked Off Team For 'Sexual Exploitation'

A North Carolina Tar Heels basketball player was kicked off the team ahead of his sophomore season, and the reason for his dismissal has now been revealed.

According to the Raleigh News & Observer, Zayden High was suspended and later dismissed from the team after violating the school's sexual exploitation policy. The publication reported that High filmed another student during a sexual encounter without their consent.

The student in question told the News & Observer that she felt "validated and "relieved" when the university ruled in favor of High's dismissal in August.

“Not that it made my pain from what happened go away, but it did make me feel like he was being held accountable," she told the newspaper.

High was sentenced to one semester's semester after UNC's investigation and re-enrolled on a probationary basis for the spring. The News & Observer also reported that High was “barred from representing the university in any way, including by participating in athletics, while on probation."

High is still on campus and using North Carolina facilities to practice and train, and he is also still able to receive athletic meals and other benefits of the basketball team.

According to InsideCarolina, High is expected to rejoin Carolina's basketball team ahead of the upcoming season.

The other student told the newspaper that High's presence on campus was "extremely frustrating" for her.

High, a former four-star recruit out of Texas, joined UNC for the 2023-24 season. As a freshman he appeared in 23 games and scored 18 total points. He played at Compass Prep high school in Arizona, and the school has produced NBA players like TyTy Washington, Maxwell Lewis and Jabari Walker.