Keeping It Heel
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UNC Recruiting: Tar Heels’ 2019 class could look a lot like this

By Blake Cockrum

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on from the sideline against the Lipscomb Bisons during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on from the sideline against the Lipscomb Bisons during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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13 Mar 1998: Coach Roy Williams of the Kansas Jayhawks talks to his team during an NCAA tournament game against the Prairie View Panthers at the Myriad in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Kansas defeated Prairie View 110-52. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /All
13 Mar 1998: Coach Roy Williams of the Kansas Jayhawks talks to his team during an NCAA tournament game against the Prairie View Panthers at the Myriad in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Kansas defeated Prairie View 110-52. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /All /

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

The recruitment of Jeremiah Robinson-Earl might be the most interesting and compelling that the Tar Heels are currently involved in. Although he’s not the most talented or highly touted prospect in the class, his ties to the front-runners in his recruitment are fascinating.

Robinson-Earl is the son of former Kansas basketball player Lester Earl, who played for the Jayhawks some 20 years ago. It sounds like an open and shut case, right? Earl’s son is bound to be leaning toward Kansas.

Not so fast, though.

Earl was recruited by, and played for, one Roy Williams. That’s right. Williams brought Earl on board in 1997 after playing one season at LSU and transferring to Kansas. He played three seasons under Williams at Kansas, averaging five points and four rebounds in 15 minutes a contest.

The younger Earl currently attends Bishop Miege High School in Mission, Kansas where he averaged 21.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game as a junior. A stat-stuffer of sorts, Robinson-Earl also recorded 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game for the Stags.

He’s following up that impressive performance with 19.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game for KC Run GMC in the Under Armour Association circuit.

Robinson-Earl has been praised as one of the more polished offensive players in the class of 2019. He’s an efficient scorer who doesn’t require a high volume of shots to make an impact on the game’s final score. He’s a good scorer around the rim, out to mid-range and knocks down a high percentage of his free throws.

He’s also one of the most active post players in the class, and does a terrific job rebounding the ball on both ends of the court. His ability to finish at the goal is outstanding, and he treats missed shots like passes for quick put-backs.

If his decision comes down to geography and proximity to home, he’ll almost definitely pick Kansas. But if Williams can cultivate the same type of relationship with him as he did with his father better than two decades ago, then the Tar Heels have a shot.

Robinson-Earl is currently the No. 21 player in the 2019 class according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the No. 4 power forward in the class and the top player in the state of Kansas.

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