Because of concerns about his family in California, reserve forward Alex Stepheson won't be playing basketball for the University of North Carolina next season.

The Tar Heels announced Friday that Stepheson, who is from Los Angeles, will transfer.

"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 the school.

Stepheson, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward, averaged 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore, appearing in 37 of the Heels' 39 games. He missed two games in January to be with his ailing father, Art, who has heart-related health issues.

The school did not indicate where Stepheson plans to transfer.

The Tar Heels still have frontcourt depth for next season's pursuit of a third straight ACC title and a return to the Final Four. Starting forwards Tyler Hansbrough, a senior, and Deon Thompson, a junior, both return. Also, coach Roy Williams is bringing in McDonald's All American forwards Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller.

Stepheson arrived at UNC as a member of the same recruiting class as Thompson and Brandan Wright.

Stepheson played sparingly as a freshman, but when Wright left for the NBA after one season, Stepheson became the first post player off the bench. A strong rebounder and shot blocker, his defensive ability was ahead of his offensive game. He blocked 33 shots, third on the team, and averaged 14.5 minutes per game last season as UNC won a school-record 36 games and reached the Final Four.

Speculation was rampant in January that Stepheson would transfer to be closer to home, but he said in March that "transferring was never an issue."

Stepheson's mother, Diane, said at the time that her son "still worries about his father," who taught him basketball and helped groom him into a highly recruited prospect.

"I am extremely, extremely disappointed," Williams said in the release, "but I feel so great about Alex that I understand his decision to transfer. He is a wonderful kid. I thoroughly enjoyed coaching him and know that he would have contributed so much more in the next two years."

Stepheson, ranked the 55th-best prospect in the Class of 2006 by Scout.com, chose UNC over Arizona and UCLA. He is the first player to transfer out of UNC's basketball program since Williams became coach in 2003.

Stepheson's departure could be the first of several changes to UNC's 2008-09 roster. Junior guards Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington and senior forward Danny Green are all considering the NBA Draft. The trio has until June 16 to decide whether to leave school early and turn pro or return to UNC for next season.