UNC Basketball Recruiting: What Does Noah Vonleh’s Re-Classification Mean for the 2013 Class

Noah Vonleh the top rated power forward in the 2014 class has reclassified to the 2013 class.  Vonleh was one of the first offers made by Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 14 class and now becomes a top target in the class of 2013.   Vonleh is very mature both on the court and in the classroom.  Minimal changes to his course load needed to be made (just one English class to be exact) to make him eligible to reclassify.

Jan 15, 2012; Springfield, MA, USA; New Hampton Huskies forward Noah Vonleh (35) during the first half of a game against the Notre Dame Crusaders at Blake Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

Vonleh can set his visit schedule once his results from the SATs are back, which he is set to take on October 6th.

Here’s what his coach had to say about Noah’s academics:

"“He’s a good student. There were minimal changes that needed to be made to his course load,” Hutchins said. “We just kind of made an easy decision in that he’s certainly talented enough. I think academically, it just made it that much easier to make that decision.”"

Vonleh has stated that Indiana and Ohio State, along with Carolina recruiting him the hardest at this point. His coach however points out that a long list of programs are after the five star power forward and it’s not fair to list them this early in the game.

"“When I left Haverhill High after my sophomore year, I wasn’t sure how my game would develop and how much I would mature physically and emotionally,” he said. “I thought going to 2014 would be the best thing for me as I went off to boarding school and enrolled at New Hampton. My mom and I have continually tracked my progress. This summer we looked at things from an NCAA eligibility status, and it was easy. With one change to my schedule, an English class, I am able to graduate with the class of 2013.“I’m ready academically. I’m more mature now in so many ways. I’m a different person and player. From a basketball standpoint, I’m working harder than I ever have. I’ve come a long way physically and emotionally since I arrived at New Hampton. After this year, I will be ready to really contribute to a top program next year. I’m in the gym every day, working really hard now to be ready.”"

So what does this mean for the Tar Heels 2013 class? The Heels have offers out to power forward Julius Randle, center Kennedy Meeks and small forwards Troy Williams and Jabari Parker along with commitments from point guard Nate Britt and power forward Isiah Hicks.

What this does is strengthen the class and sheds even more light on the genius that is Roy Williams the recruiter. While many were clamoring for Roy to make more offers and become more aggressive, Roy stayed pat and continued to pursue those he had identified as top targets.

I believe Roy saw this as well as the rumored reclassification of another 2014 prospect, Andrew Wiggins as foregone conclusions. Therefore, he didn’t need to go after anyone else, he just needed to continue pushing. What this also does is puts a little more pressure on guys like Troy Williams and Kennedy Meeks. Second tier guys who could see their offers from Carolina taken away if stars like Randle and Vonleh accept, their may not be room for another big like Meeks. The same will hold true if and when someone like Wiggins reclassifies.

Vonleh is a big time star, and like Randle, he defies position. Listed as a PF by most, it wasn’t long ago he was listed as a small forward. His game is versatile enough that if UNC were to land a dream trio of Randle and Vonleh to go along with Hicks, all three could take the court at once without skipping a beat.

Randle has spoken fondly of joining other five star preps in Lexington in a dream team recruiting class. Visions of playing with stars like Vonleh, Hicks, Britt and any combination of other stars the Heels are pursuing in the class are undoubtedly creeping into his daydreams now.