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UNC Basketball: Roy Williams lands first top 10 recruit in 4 years

By Zack Pearson

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 31: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on during practice ahead of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium on March 31, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 31: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on during practice ahead of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium on March 31, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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UNC landing Nassir Little is a big deal and here’s why

Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program received some great news on Wednesday night as class of 2018 forward Nassir Little announced his commitment.

Little becomes the third player in the 2018 class to commit to the Tar Heels, joining Rechon Black and Coby White.

The five-star recruit is one of the top players in the country and gives UNC’s 2018 class a big boost.

But it’s also important to note that Little is the first Top 10 recruit to commit to UNC since 2014.

In that 2014 class, the Tar Heels landed Justin Jackson who was ranked as the No. 9 player in 247 Sports’ composite rankings. They also had Theo Pinson who was No. 10 in ESPN’s recruiting rankings.

Jackson went on to play three years at UNC winning the ACC Player of the Year award this past season. Both Jackson and Pinson were instrumental in helping the Tar Heels reach back-to-back Final Fours and winning it all in 2017.

The Tar Heels streak of not landing top 10 recruits is officially over and it happens as there is still a dark cloud with the academic scandal over the program.

Little is ranked as the No. 9 overall recruit in 247 Sports’ composite rankings. He’s the real deal and will be one of the best talents to attend UNC in recent years.

He’s expected to play on the wing in Williams’ offense and can score the basketball from anywhere on the court. More importantly, he’s an outstanding defender something that Williams loves to have in his lineup.

The commitment is a big one for UNC. They are coming off a national championship and lost Jackson, Kennedy Meeks, Tony Bradley Jr. and Isaiah Hicks. The program is also set to lose Joel Berry and Theo Pinson to graduation.

But with a very good 2017 class that is coming in and now a top 2018 class, the Tar Heels future continues to look bright.

They are also in the running for another top 10 player in the class, Simi Shittu, as he’s currently trending towards UNC.

Next: UNC is picking up momentum for 2018 recruit Simi Shittu

If the Tar Heels can pickup Shittu, it would just be icing on the cake.

Maybe now this can finally end the narrative that Williams can’t land the big players anymore.

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