UNC Recruiting: The UNC Stimulus Package
This content has been provided by KIH Recruiting Insider, John Finlayson.
Hello again Tar Heel fans and welcome back to another edition of the UNC Stimulus Package. Not a ton of activity last week compared to two weeks ago, but there is still some news on the Tar Heel recruiting front.
Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE
First and foremost, Kennedy Meeks has recently named his top two schools: UNC and Georgetown. This isn’t anything unexpected as Meeks has been pretty up front about these two programs being at the top of his list. This announcement officially takes schools such as Kentucky, Indiana, and NC State out of consideration for the 6-9 big man out of Charlotte, NC. Even though Meeks has been vocal about taking his time with picking a school, I expect a decision this month by Meeks. Both UNC and Georgetown have a lot to offer both with their prestige and their history of developing big men, but you have to feel like the Heels have the distinct advantage with Meeks being local. He is one of the three uncommitted Tar Heel recruits along with Noah Vonleh and Andrew Wiggins.
2014 recruit Jahlil Okafor released a blog last week about his visits to Duke and North Carolina and mentions talking with Roy Williams and is impressed at the fact that UNC develops tons of big men. Also, he believes that he would fit in great at Duke and says he gets offended at the fact when people say don’t go to Duke because all you’ll do is set screens. Fellow recruit Tyus Jones released his final list which includes UNC. Jones and Okafor are still considered a package deal although, Jahlil has yet to release a list of final schools. If both players are considered a package deal along with Theo Pinson, then North Carolina should be on both of their lists.
Noah Vonleh is apparently still in the mix with Indiana. IU pulled out of recruiting center Beejay Anya to focus more on Vonleh who is still a consensus top 10 recruit in his class. With five players already signed to the Hoosiers for next season, it’s hard to believe that he will end up in Bloomington. Vonleh is going down to UNC for an unofficial visit sometime between December 27th and the 29th when he plays in a basketball tournament in Raleigh.
Several Tar Heel commits had big games last week which is exciting for North Carolina. In a scrimmage against Word of God, Oak Hill PG and 2013 UNC commit Nate Britt scored three clutch baskets to secure the win for the Warriors 81-67. UNC football commits Ryan Switzer and Mitch Trubisky had big games Friday night as high school playoffs kicked off. Switzer ran for 235 yards on just eight carries and scored seven touchdowns on runs of 51, 43, 63, and 43 yards. He also returned an interception 90 yards for a score and recorded a five-yard reception as well as a three-yard pass. Trubisky completed 16-of-23 passes for 344 yards and five touchdowns with an interception in his game. He also ran for 73 yards and a score.
As always, we will keep you up to date with all the recruiting news for both football and basketball here on Keeping it Heel. For this week, my Larry Fedora recruits that I want everyone to keep an eye on are ATH Jonathan Alston (Highlight Reel of the Week) from Bunn, NC who is considering Arkansas, ECU, UNC, NCSU, Notre Dame, Tennessee and South Carolina and watch out for 4 star LOT Tyrone Crowder. Crowder measures 6-2, 325 pounds out of Richmond, NC and is being looked at by every big name in the country, but has UNC listed in his top 3 along with Georgia and Clemson.
Highlight Reel of the Week: Jonathan Alston