Source: Larry Drew II leaves UNC

In a jarring February development, North Carolina point guard Larry Drew II has left the Tar Heels team and will transfer, according to a source close to the situation.

The source did not cite a reason for Drew's decision to transfer but did say the junior left campus Thursday, roughly 48 hours after recording nine assists in 19 minutes in North Carolina's 106-74 victory over Boston College.

The source also said North Carolina's coaches were aware of Drew's decision.

Drew essentially has shared the point guard position this season with freshman Kendall Marshall; he lost the starting role to Marshall in mid-January.

As a result, Drew's playing time, scoring and assists have dropped from last season -- minutes down from 28.8 to 22.8 per game; scoring from 8.5 points to 4.4; and assists from 5.9 to 3.9.

However, he's had some of his better floor games in the Tar Heels' past three games, all victories, racking up 19 assists and only two turnovers while playing fewer minutes than Marshall.

Drew, the son of Atlanta Hawks coach Larry Drew, was a lightning rod for fan criticism last year, when the Tar Heels failed to earn an NCAA tournament berth.

If he transfers to another Division I school, Drew will have to sit out a year, and he would have one season of eligibility remaining.

North Carolina is 16-5 overall, and 6-1 in the ACC, in second place behind Duke. It is on the verge of re-entering the ESPN/USA Today coaches' top 25 after being ranked ninth in the preseason. The Tar Heels are tied for 23rd in The Associated Press media poll.

Pat Forde is an ESPN.com senior writer.