Top Prospect Noah Vonleh Reclassifies to 2013 Class
North Carolina may have to adjust the recruiting board. Earlier today, Blue Chip prospect Noah Vonleh, the #4 overall prospect in the 2014 class has academically reclassified into the 2013 graduating class. That means the now #7 overall prospect in the country (#3 Power Forward) will be looking to play college basketball a year from now.
Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE
What does mean for the Tar Heels? Quite simply it means that the Tar Heels have a lot to think about. UNC has three available scholarships for the 2013-2014 season and has already filled two of them in Isaiah Hicks and Nate Britt. Hicks is a 6’8” 210 lbs power forward ranked #16 overall and Britt is a 6’1” point guard #50 overall in his class. Roy and his staff have been busy on the recruiting front of late and have pretty much indicated that they plan on signing one final player for the 2013 class.
Vonleh, you have to assume, will be a top candidate to be that last signee. He’s a 6’8” combo forward that can create for himself around the basket, behind the arc and off the dribble. Remind you of anyone? Vonleh, to me, is like a less polished Harrison Barnes. That may scare some of you, but if Roy can get a player that can recreate 17 ppg performances and put up All-American quality seasons then he’s most definitely worth a look.
Noah, as I mentioned earlier, is an offensive machine that can score many different ways, but he’s a real gem defensively. His size and athleticism allow him to guard most every position on the floor. He’s tall and strong enough inside to handle big men and he also is quick enough to chase down guards. His drive and willingness to hustle after the ball including on the glass make him a can’t miss guy especially for a team that lost their top three rebounders from the past two seasons.
The question now for UNC is where does Vonleh fit on their list of prospects that are in contention for the final spot of the 2013 class? I’d have to assume he’s pretty high up there. Vonleh joins a group of prospects that have been offered by North Carolina that includes, Jabari Parker, Julius Randle, Troy Williams, and Kennedy Meeks. The more I look at this list, I like Vonleh to be the priority.
If you believe the experts, Parker and Randle are the top two guys talent wise on the board. Parker, a 6’6” small forward, is widely regarded as the top player in the country and is seemingly closer and closer to committing to Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans as each day passes. As for Randle, he’s keeping things pretty close to the chest, but UNC is likely to have to go through John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats to land him and we all know that’s no small task.
To me Vonleh is the player to get on this list. You already have a true big man (Hicks) coming next year to compliment guys like Joel James and Brice Johnson and while Vonleh can bang in the post with the best of them, he just adds such value for a big man on the perimeter. If it were me I wouldn’t be able to pass that up. Plus, long term wise, I think he’d serve as a great compliment to top prospect Jahlil Okafor who is the best big man graduating in 2014.
I truly believe that you’ll see Coach Williams (among others) really make a strong push for Noah Vonleh in order to secure his letter of intent. I’m not sure how this will affect our standing with Julius Randle, but I think the pursuit of Vonleh will push guys like Williams and Meeks to the back burner.