UNC Basketball Recruiting Tracker Updated Class of 2014

Head spinning from all the offers, decisions, non decisions, transfers, players reclassifying, adding and cutting from their list, it’s maddening. We’re keeping track of it all right here at Keeping It Heel.

Tracker Updated: October 11th

Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE

Class of 2014

2014 is a strong class right now. The class is particularly strong in the state of North Carolina and UNC could conceivably have a couple local recruits from this group. The Heels have confirmed six offers so far in the 2014 class with mixed reports on the status of another. Roy is going after the top players in the class and could have a great group when all is said and done.

PG Tyus Jones 6-0, 175 Apple Valley, MN Jones is rated as the #1 PG in the class and is a consensus five star prospect.

Jones may be a tough get for Carolina who has Marcus Paige and Nate Britt already committed in the 2012 and 2013 classes. Meaning Jones would likely be looking at a role off Carolinas bench as a freshman, something he may not want to do as the top point in the class.

I love Jones’ game, when I watch him, I can’t help thinking about Tony Parker the entire time. He’s very mature and has a high basketball IQ and makes very few mistakes on the floor. Not a big time scorer and he doesn’t wow you with his athleticism on the court, he’s the perfect, steady leader who does it all on the court. Jones was offered by Carolina on August 3rd.

Jahlil Okafor tweeted that he and Jones will be attending Duke’s Midnight Madness this weekend but stated that they will also visit Chapel Hill.  He went on to say that he texted coach Roy Williams to say he hopes his recovery from surgery goes well and hopes to get to talk with him during the visit.  Jones and Okafor are very serious about attending the same program.

PF Trey Lyles

Lyles has insisted that Indiana is still #1 on his list as he opens things back up. Kentucky, Syracuse, Illinois, North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA, Duke and Georgetown according to sources, are all after the Indianapolis top prospect. Lyles is a very advanced player for his age and has a very diverse and well rounded game.

Lyles can face up and take it to the basket himself and has a nice mid range jumpshot from 17 feet in. He’s also a terrific traditional big man in the post and a great mix of post moves. An outstanding athlete, the 6-9 Lyles often leads the break and even sets up the offense in the half court for his high school team.

SG Theo Pinson 6-5, 180 Greensboro, NC

Pinson is a great talent on the court with a lot of versatility. An excellent mid range shooter with range, Pinson is a consistent scorer and can fill it up in a variety of ways. A very good ball handler who can lead the break and create shots for himself and teammates. Pinson also thrives getting to and attacking the basket.

He needs to bulk up a bit and tighten up his game on the defensive end to thrive at the college level. A consensus five star prospect the local prospect was offered a scholarship in July by Roy Williams.

SF Justise Winslow 6-6, 210 Houston, TX

Winslow is the number 2 rated SF in the 2014 class, very explosive to the rim he is an advanced ball handler that gets to the rim in a hurry. He runs the floor well and can lead the break himself, unique skills for his size with a high basketball IQ. Winslow is a good fit in Carolina and despite his advanced skills he still has a lot of upside. Justise is yet another lefty that has drawn Carolinas attention.  Winslow has an offer from UNC and is one of several players who received an offer from Carolina this July.

Andrew Wiggins SG 6-8, 195 Huntington, WV
Currently apart of the 2014 class from Canada has challenged Jabari Parker for the title of best prep player in North America, regardless of class. Wiggins game is almost flawless and it’s hard to see him playing two more seasons in high school. Rumors of him reclassifying to the 2013 class have been both unrelenting and unsubstantiated, in other words, it’s anybody’s guess when Wiggins will actually hit a college campus.

Wiggins is a physical freak who runs the floor like a point guard, can lead the break with very good ball handling skills, is great in isolation and can create for himself and teammates in the half court. A natural and smooth operator in the half court, Wiggins gets to the rim in a hurry with his explosive, attacking style that often surprises defenders.

Wiggins has improved his jump shot and range over the summer and is a more than capable contributor in all facets of the game offensively. Wiggins is not a flashy player, with a tremendous basketball IQ, everything he does on the court serves a purpose. He doesn’t waste dribbles or hang around the perimeter, he attacks at full speed and often overwhelms the opposition.

Wiggins’ high school head coach recently revealed that UNC is one of three schools along with FSU and Kentucky that he hears from in regards to Wiggins.  He also stated that Andrew does in fact have an offer from Carolina and has for over a year.  Wiggins is the constant subject of reclassification rumors and it will be interesting to see whether he makes the jump to the 2013 class.

PG Joel Berry 6-2, 180 Orlando, FL from Lake Highland Prep in Orlando, FL is being looked at by Carolina. Berry is the first ever sophomore in the state of Florida to be named Mr. Basketball. Berry is one of the top PGs in the class and has been quoted as saying that Carolina is his dream school.

UNC officially offered Berry just days after offering top 2014 PG Tyus Jones. Berry is now weighing 11 total offers.  Berry is one of two PGs with an offer from Carolina along with Tyus Jones, recently the Heels also had a visit from Shelton Mitchell

C Jahlil Okafor 6-9, 270 Five Star Recruit Chicago, IL (Arkansas, Connecticut, DePaul, Florida, Florida St, Illinois, Kansas, Marquette, Michigan St, Nebraska, UNC, Ohio St, Syracuse, West Virginia)

There have been mixed reports about whether or not Okafor has an offer from UNC. He was first viewed as the first and only offer in the class, now that the program has recognized the other four offers, it’s a bit grey on the status of Okafor. This kid is an absolute monster, In my view he’s the cream of the crop in the entire class. A big time center who plays extremely well with his back to the basket. Advanced footwork, solid fundamentals and several nice, go to post moves make him elite inside. A very good rebounder and defender with the size and strength to be truly special.

The perceived knocks I’ve heard on Okafor are fine with me mostly. He’s not very good at facing the basket, I like versatility but I prefer my centers inside, battling the other bigs. He has no jump shot and isn’t the best passer out of the post.

Okafor tweeted that he and Jones will be attending Duke’s Midnight Madness this weekend but stated that they will also visit Chapel Hill.  He went on to say that he texted coach Roy Williams to say he hopes his recovery from surgery goes well and hopes to get to talk with him during the visit.  Jones and Okafor are very serious about attending the same program.

Roy Williams also told Okafor that he is one of two people in Chicago with his office number, the other,

Michael Jordan

.

SF Justin Jackson 6-6, 175 Spring, TX

Jackson is an athletic wing with a high basketball IQ, Jackson is a very good shooter and can get to the basket. At 6-6 and decent strength, he could end up evolving into a PF by the time he reaches college ala John Henson (I realize I use Henson in comparisons a lot, he’s a bit of an enigma if you think about it, more on that down the line). Defensively he’s solid and holds his position well. Jackson is the latest perimeter player in the 2014 class to receive an offer from Carolina. Among the four wings UNC has offered, Jackson is the best shooter in the group.

PG Shelton Mitchell Mitchell is a consensus four star prospect out of Waxhaw, NC

Mitchell is a true leader on the court, a floor general and unselfish player who does the little things and can be counted on to make good decisions on the court. It’s early in the process but make no mistake, Mitchell is no consolation prize.  Mitchell recently took a visit to Chapel Hill

SF Caleb and Cody Martin brothers out of Mocksville, NC visited Chapel Hill to look at the North Carolina Tar Heels today.  Like the Wear twins who transferred to UCLA after just one year at UNC, the Martins’ play the same position, small forward.  Both are similar physically, at least in height standing at 6-7, Cody is the more physically imposing of the two at 210 pounds with Caleb weighing in at 190.

The brothers are both rated as four star prospects and project as good sized wing men. Their games are very similar, both accomplished passers who can handle the basketball and like to attack the rim. Athletic and quick with the ball in their hands and good in the fast break.

Caleb is the better rebounder and because of his more defined body, projects better right now at the next level. They are ranked very close to one another on everyone’s board with Rivals putting Caleb at 40 and Cody at 42. The local in state products are two of several quality North Carolina state players in the 2014 class. UNC has already offered Theo Pinson of Greensboro and have shown interest in point guard Sheldon Mitchell of Waxhaw.

SF Dwayne Morgan a 6-7, 180 pound SF out of Baltimore MD will visit Chapel Hill in September.  Morgan is one of the elite perimeter players in the nations 2014 class.  A consensus five star prospect, Morgan is rated the #4 SF in the class.  He has a very sound fundamental game, a textbook jump shot and maturity beyond his years.  Morgan is long and effective in the passing lanes and a good rebounding wing.

SF Jalen Lindsey 6-6, 180 Nashville, TN Whenever I watch Jalen Lindsey play, made for Carolina is all that runs through my mind. I never really end up making a very good analysis of his game. His athleticism is off the charts, he’s great on the break and a sportscenter highlight dunk special waiting to happen. Lindsay grew up a Tar Heel fan, the Heels have started the process of looking into Lindsey and like Berry could be an easy commit considering where his heart is.

"“When I was growing up it was always North Carolina [who I liked],” Lindsey told NRS. “They’ve always had a real good history, a lot of good players who have went there and that really inspired me. I really like [head] coach [Roy] Williams and I’ve always liked the team, period.”"