Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Recruiting: 2019’s top prospect to visit Tar Heels?

By Blake Cockrum

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit

No. 1 prospect in the class of 2019 has North Carolina in his sights

When it comes to recruiting, the North Carolina men’s basketball program is as hot as any team in the nation.

After recent visits from class of 2018 target Darius Days and class of 2020 prospect Mark Williams, the Tar Heels now prepare for a visit from the No. 1 shooting guard in the class of 2018 in Romeo Langford.

More from UNC Basketball

And while that is a star-studded list of prospects, perhaps, the best is yet to come.

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams made a trip to the Fab 48 Tournament in Las Vegas to watch Vernon Carey, the top prospect in the class of 2019. Williams subsequently offered Carey a scholarship and would later take a trip to watch him play during his high school’s open gym session.

"“He came down to my school about two weeks ago and told me to just keep on working,” Carey told Inside Carolina. “He saw me work out and just wanted to see me keep getting better.”"

Vernon Carey, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound power forward out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is the No. 1 player in the class of 2019 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the top prospect at his position and in the state of Florida. In fact, 247Sports ranks Carey No. 2 among all high school basketball players, regardless of class.

Carey recently spoke about his interest in visiting North Carolina, telling Inside Carolina that a trip to Chapel Hill could be in the near future.

GLENDALE, AZ – APRIL 03: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – APRIL 03: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

"“My high school team is playing a tournament in North Carolina so I think we might take a visit around then,” Carey said. “We just started playing fall league games so we are just trying to get the chemistry down and obviously try to win a championship.”"

Carey has offers from a number of big name programs including Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State and North Carolina.

Miami and Michigan State are the teams who currently appear to have the most traction in Carey’s recruitment. There is plenty of time left in his recruitment, though, and with perennial powers like Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina involved, anything can happen.

The 247Sports Crystal Ball currently projects Miami as a 50 percent favorite to land Carey, while Duke and Michigan State sit at 40 and 10 percent, respectively.

Next: SI named Joel Berry one of 2017's 10 best

Stick with Keeping It Heel for updates on Carey’s recruitment, as well as continued coverage of all things North Carolina recruiting.

Home/UNC Basketball