North Carolina sophomore forward Dawson Garcia will miss the remainder of the season so that he can stay in Minnesota as his grandmother deals with a serious illness.

Garcia, a native of Prior Lake, Minnesota, has missed the past six games for the Tar Heels, starting with their Jan. 24 win over Virginia Tech. The 6-foot-11 transfer from Marquette started 12 of the first 16 games he played in this season.

“After the loss of several very special family members this past year, I came close to losing my dad in December and my grandma is currently in the ICU (intensive care unit),” Garcia said in a statement. “With my dad recovering and my grandma fighting for her life, it’s not even a question to me where I need to be right now. My family is my world and I will always be there for them.”