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UNC Basketball: What Zion Williamson’s decision means for Tar Heels

By Brandon Griffin

CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during their game against the Tulane Green Wave at the Dean Smith Center on December 3, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during their game against the Tulane Green Wave at the Dean Smith Center on December 3, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Five-star phenom Zion Williamson picked Duke, giving the Blue Devils the top three players in the class of 2018

Zion Williamson is already drawing comparisons to Vince Carter. That’s how explosive and athletic the high school senior is.

However, unlike Carter, Williamson decided not to bring his talents to Chapel Hill. Instead he decided he would join “the brotherhood” a few miles up the road in Durham.

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So what does Williamson’s decision to pick Duke mean for UNC?

UNC misses out on South Carolina domination

If Williamson had selected UNC, it would have shut the door to South Carolina for all other schools. The past two seasons, North Carolina had taken home the top player in the state of South Carolina (Seventh Woods in 2016, Jalek Felton in 2017).

If they had done it three years in a row, it would have been a declaration of dominance over a state that the Tar Heels already dominated in basketball (See Clemson in Chapel Hill). Alas, it didn’t happen, though the state of South Carolina still lost in the whole process.

Duke will be tough to beat once again

Williamson solidifies and most likely locks down the Blue Devils’ No. 1 class. Since ESPN started a top-100 in 2007, no team has ever taken home the top three players. Duke just did that with Williamson’s commitment.

Next season’s Blue Devils will be talented and that will keep Duke in the national spotlight, and an ACC favorite again next season.

2018 class is still good without Williamson

Even without Williamson, UNC should still have one of its best classes in quite some time. ESPN currently has the Tar Heels three-man class of Rechon Black, Coby White, and Nassir Little ranked fifth overall.

Sure, Williamson would’ve helped that ranking, but it is still a really good group of kids, all of which should mesh well with a team that is probably only losing two players after this season.

In the end, Williamson picking Duke hurts, but it isn’t the end of the world. Though Little is probably a one-and-done player, Black and White are both probably multiple-year players for the Tar Heels.

Next season will probably be a lot like this season. Duke will be the preseason No. 1 team and favorite to win it all. However, they will be young and lacking in the same veteran leadership they have over the past couple of seasons.

Next: Tar Heels upset Blue Devils in overtime

Meanwhile, UNC will probably be ranked in the top 15. However, they will be deeper and more experienced than the Blue Devils. Talent is good, but experienced talent is better.

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