Class of 2019 could be one of Tar Heels’ best in Roy Williams era
The recruiting class of 2018 has been a renaissance, of sorts, for Roy Williams and the North Carolina men’s basketball program.
Finally clear of the NCAA cloud that had been looming over the program for the better part of four years, Williams and the Tar Heels reeled in their best recruiting class in a handful of seasons, along with the program’s highest-rated commit since Harrison Barnes in 2010.
Headlined by a pair of five-star prospects in Nassir Little and Coby White, the Tar Heels’ incoming freshman class appears to have as much individual star-power as any in recent memory. North Carolina also remained in the mix for a number of other elite prospects until the very end of their respective recruitments, indicating that the Tar Heels’ prowess on the recruiting trail might be back on track.
With two NCAA title game appearances in the last three years and a top-15 nationally ranked recruiting class, Williams and company are looking to carry their current momentum into 2019 and beyond.
That momentum appears to have North Carolina in good standing with multiple top-25 players in the 2019 class, including the ever-important but recently elusive front court players that the Tar Heels so desperately need. Add in a top-50 point guard that committed to UNC back in August, and the Tar Heels have a good start on what could turn out to be one of the best recruiting classes since Williams returned to Chapel Hill in 2003.
Take a look at the most up-to-date, comprehensive and realistic look at what the Tar Heels’ 2019 recruiting class might look like.
Jeremiah Francis
Jeremiah Francis is North Carolina’s lone commitment in the class of 2019, and he wasted no time giving his pledge to Roy Williams and the Tar Heels.
Francis committed to North Carolina in August of 2017, months before the start of his junior season at Pickerington Central High School in Pickerington, Ohio. Despite holding scholarship offers from over a dozen schools including Florida State, Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, Francis spent little time deliberating and committed to UNC just nine days after getting the call from Williams.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Francis is the No. 53 player in the class of 2019 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the fifth-ranked point guard in the class and the No. 2 player in the state of Ohio.
Given the current make-up of the UNC back court, Francis figures to be a contributor in Chapel Hill from day one. But he’s also the type of player that Williams can build his team around for the next several years.
Francis is a talented basketball player, particularly from an offensive standpoint. He’s a gifted scorer with the ability to finish at the rim, and the strength to play through contact. He’s also a good distributor, and works to get his teammates involved.
The most valuable thing that Francis brings to North Carolina, though, may not even be a measurable attribute.
Francis has a high basketball I.Q. and makes good decisions on the court. He’s an unselfish player and always puts his team first. When he arrives in Chapel Hill, he’ll quickly adhere to the Tar Heels’ style of play and strengthen the locker room. He possesses many of the same traits as former Tar Heels Marcus Paige and Joel Berry II, which should bode well for UNC fans.
By the time he arrives on campus in 2019, the UNC back court will likely be heavily anchored by a senior Seventh Woods, and the sophomore duo of Coby White and Rechon Black. If Woods is able to handle the lion’s share of point guard responsibilities – something that’s yet to be seen – then White will probably be alongside him at the two-guard.
Barring tremendous growth and progress from reserve point guard K.J. Smith, or a number of other variables, Black would likely be the first ball-handler off the UNC bench. Francis would be next in line.
His minutes aren’t likely to amount to much in year one with the Tar Heels, but the experience he gains will be invaluable for a player who will end up running the North Carolina offense later in his career.
Vernon Carey
Vernon Carey is one of three players in the 2019 class to have separated himself from the pack. The other two, James Wiseman and Charles Bassey, appear to be squarely out of reach for Roy Williams and the Tar Heels.
Wiseman holds a scholarship offer from North Carolina, but Kentucky and Memphis are the clear front-runners in his recruitment. Kentucky head coach John Calipari has really prioritized Wiseman this recruiting cycle, and first-year Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway has made a strong push to nab the No. 1 player in the class.
North Carolina isn’t even recruiting Bassey, who has long been seen as a strong Western Kentucky lean. A number of other programs have shown interest in the talented big man, but the interest seems pretty one-sided. Louisville appears to be the only other school in the race for Bassey, a 6-foot-10-inch native of Nigeria, who’s currently living and playing basketball in Louisville, Kentucky.
That leaves Carey, the No. 2 prospect in the class of 2019 according to the 247Sports Composite, as the jewel in the Tar Heels’ crown. And that’s not a bad thing.
Carey is a 6-foot-9, 245-pound power forward out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida who may be the most physically imposing player in the class. He’s got the combination of size and skill that the Tar Heels have been searching for in recent years, but missing out on thanks to programs like Duke and Kentucky.
The absence of a player like Carey on this year’s North Carolina team proved to be costly in the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels struggled against a bigger, stronger Texas A&M team that repeatedly capitalized on its size advantage in the post.
Carey recently announced his five finalists, and North Carolina made the cut. It was great news for Roy Williams and company, considering the amount of time he and his coaching staff have put into this particular recruitment.
And while all of that sounds great, there is some bad news that has become all too familiar for North Carolina fans:
The Duke Blue Devils are also in the hunt for Carey, and appear to be in a pretty good position to land the elite big man. They, too, were one of Carey’s five finalists, along with Kentucky, Miami and Michigan State.
Given Duke’s current position with Carey and its recruiting pedigree in recent years, including signing three of the top five players in the 2018 class, it’s reasonable to think that the talented big man may end up in Durham.
Matthew Hurt
Okay, let’s be honest. Things aren’t looking too good with Matthew Hurt.
Roy Williams began recruiting Hurt some two years ago, and things seemed to be going well for a while. Though we never had a real sense that Hurt was leaning toward picking North Carolina, it never felt like he was overtly heading in the opposite direction.
That’s pretty much how it feels now, with the Tar Heels seemingly sitting on the outside looking in. And while North Carolina appears to be a long-shot at this point, Kansas and Minnesota are looking more and more like two of the most likely landing spots for the five-star power forward.
It’s unfortunate in the eyes of North Carolina fans, who are just two years removed from watching a player with similar size and skill set in Chapel Hill. Former UNC wing and first team All-American Justin Jackson entered college with nearly the same height and weight as Hurt, and they share the same ability to knock down mid to long-range jumpers.
And while Jackson is probably the better finesse player and jump shooter, Hurt will almost definitely be a more dynamic force in the post, both as a scorer and rebounder. Hurt’s potential to gain an inch or two on his height before next season helps, and so does the lengthy wingspan on his tall, wiry frame.
Hurt is also a player who would likely fit in well with the uptempo style of offense that Williams’ Tar Heels run. A 6-foot-9, 199-pound power forward with the ability to get up and down the court, Hurt is conditioned enough to keep pace with smaller, faster players.
Alas, it looks like Tar Heel fans may never get to see Hurt run alongside the likes of Coby White, Rechon Black, Jeremiah Francis and company. Nothing is set in stone, though, and things often change throughout the recruitment of a 17 or 18-year-old high school athlete. But it’s my guess that we’ll see Hurt wearing crimson and blue in Lawrence, Kansas next fall.
Cole Anthony
Class of 2019 prospect Cole Anthony is the hottest name in high school basketball. He’s shot up recruiting boards in recent weeks after dominant play this spring in the Nike EYBL circuit, where he’s averaging 25.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
A 6-foot-3, 180-pound combo guard out of New York City, Anthony is the son of former 12-year NBA veteran Greg Anthony. His outstanding play has skyrocketed his stock throughout the amateur basketball community, reflected by his recent rise to the top of many recruiting outlet’s rankings.
247Sports’ Jerry Meyer recently stated that Anthony would be No. 1 on his list of 2019 prospects. USA Today also released rankings of the country’s top 25 high school basketball players, and Anthony topped that list, too.
He’s been credited as one of the most athletic players in the class, and has a competitive edge that is rivaled by few. He’s a talented offensive player, a terrific rebounder – particularly for a 6-foot-3 guard – and a gifted passer. There’s not a spot on the court that you have to hide his weaknesses, because he really doesn’t have any. He may be the most complete player in the class.
Anthony already holds nearly a dozen scholarship offers, with a lot more likely on the way. Duke, Kansas, Georgetown, Louisville, Miami, Oregon and UCLA headline the programs that have already offered him, and North Carolina is expected to join that list at some point.
He’s the No. 4 prospect in the class of 2019 according to the latest 247Sports Composite. He’s the No. 1 combo guard in the class and the top-ranked prospect in the state of New York.
Jalen Lecque
Class of 2019 prospect Jalen Lecque is one of the hottest players in the country. Between his outstanding play, five-star ranking and potential reclassification to 2018, he’s getting a lot of attention among coaches and scouts.
A 6-foot-4, 175-pound combo guard, Lecque has tossed around the idea of reclassifying in order to begin college in the fall of 2018. He’s told multiple media outlets that his grades are in order to make the jump to 2018, but his decision will come down to playing time.
If Lecque is unable to get the amount of playing time he desires as a freshman, then he will almost definitely remain in his class and finish out his senior year in high school. He’s also illustrated an interest in playing just one year of college ball before making the jump to the NBA.
If it’s playing time that Lecque is primarily looking for in 2018, there are some programs that can likely be ruled out of the equation. Kansas, which already has two highly touted incoming guards, is one of them.
Kentucky is in the same boat, having already signed two top-35 back court players along with the possibility of 2019’s Ashton Hagans reclassifying to join the Wildcats this year. However, it seems unlikely that John Calipari would turn down a five-star prospect, regardless of position or current roster make-up. Playing time could be scarce, though, and that would likely keep Lecque from picking the Wildcats.
North Carolina, with Coby White and Rechon Black on their way to Chapel Hill in the fall, is another unlikely destination for Lecque in the fall. It’s difficult to imagine the Tar Heels bringing any more guards into the fold in 2018. The Tar Heels could be a major player in Lecque’s recruitment, however, if he decides to remain in his current class and join the college ranks in 2019.
Regardless, Lecque will have no shortage of options when it comes time to make his college decision, having already received more than three-dozen scholarship offers. And his list of prospective teams reads like a Who’s Who of college basketball’s top programs.
Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Oregon, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, Villanova and Xavier headline what will surely turn out to be one of the most intense recruiting battles in the country over the next year.
And although North Carolina is yet to offer Lecque a scholarship, Roy Williams and the Tar Heels are expected to play a major role in his recruitment.
Lecque is the No. 11 prospect in the class of 2019 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the second-ranked combo guard in the class and the No. 1 player in the state of North Carolina.
Will Baker
Will Baker is one of the top front court prospects in the class of 2019, and he could be headed to the University of North Carolina next year.
Getting Baker to Chapel Hill will be no easy task, though. The Tar Heels will have stiff competition from a handful of other big name programs.
Baker, a native of Austin, Texas, is said to be considering his hometown Texas Longhorns. Baker’s first scholarship offer came from the Longhorns, and he’s received multiple visits from head coach Shaka Smart in 2018. Baker reciprocated interest in mid-February when he came to campus for an unofficial visit.
Baker has interest from a number of other schools in Texas including Baylor, Texas A&M and TCU, each of which has extended an offer to the five-star big man. He’s made unofficial visits to both Baylor and Texas A&M, but appears to have more interest in the state’s flagship school.
Another major player in Baker’s recruitment is Kansas, which extended a scholarship offer in November, just one day after watching him play. The Jayhawks appear to be in a good situation with Baker at the moment, and figure to be in contention throughout his recruitment.
Baker is also taking a really long look at the UCLA Bruins, who have been trending in the 247Sports Crystal Ball for the past couple of months. That’s where site expert and Director of Basketball Scouting Jerry Meyer believes Baker will commit. Baker also has an offer from Stanford, which remains the dark horse in the state of California.
Roy Williams followed up a September scholarship offer with visits to see Baker in January and April. Much like UNC’s other front court targets, Williams is recruiting Baker hard. The Tar Heels would like to get commitments from at least two big men in the 2019 class in order to avoid using an undersized lineup in future seasons.
Baker is the No. 16 overall prospect in the class of 2019 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s a top-5 center in the class and the No. 2 player in the state of Texas.
Armando Bacot
If you’re a North Carolina fan looking for optimism in the class of 2019, look no further than five-star big man Armando Bacot.
Bacot is a 6-foot-10, 240-pound center out of Trinity Episcopal School in Richmond, Virginia that appears to have strong interest in the Tar Heels. In fact, each of the 11 Crystal Ball predictions published by 247Sports belong to North Carolina. That includes the site’s Director of Basketball Scouting, Jerry Meyer, who made his prediction in late-March.
That a good sign for Roy Williams and the Tar Heels, particularly nearing summer time prior to Bacot’s senior season.
Bacot would fill an obvious area of need for the Tar Heels given their recent misfortune recruiting elite front court players. It’s that misfortune that helped Texas A&M throttle North Carolina in the 2018 NCAA Tournament’s second round.
Bacot is one of the top front court players in the class of 2019 thanks to his tremendous size, skill and athleticism. He plays both the power forward and center positions, but will provide a lot of upside for any team at either position. He’s holding nearly three-dozen scholarship offers already, making his college options virtually limitless.
With offers from Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Kansas, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, UCLA, Villanova and Virginia, it appears as if Bacot’s recruitment will likely involve most of the usual suspects.
His recruitment is one that North Carolina fans will want to keep an eye on in the coming months, especially since his interest in the Tar Heels is so high.
Wendell Moore
The “brotherhood” strikes again. This time, with five-star in-state prospect Wendell Moore.
It wasn’t that long ago that Moore was seen as a likely UNC commit, but in recent weeks it appears more and more plausible that he’ll end up eight miles down the road at Duke.
It’s really not all that surprising to a North Carolina fan base that’s seen this happen frequently over the past several years. Players like Brandon Ingram, Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum are remembered well in Chapel Hill for choosing Duke over UNC, breaking the hearts of hopeful Tar Heel fans.
Ingram was a particularly painful loss for Roy Williams, the program and UNC fans alike due to the nature of his recruitment and eventual decision. Despite being considered a near-lock to sign with UNC at one point, Ingram committed to Duke. Had it not been for the looming NCAA investigation – a point which Ingram later confirmed – the five-star wing would have chosen North Carolina.
Thankfully, that shadow is no longer hanging over the program, and future UNC targets’ decisions won’t be swayed by opposing coaches’ claims of possible NCAA sanctions.
Despite no longer having that tactic in his arsenal, though, Mike Krzyzewski may still get the last laugh in Moore’s recruitment. If he does, it’ll simply be the latest example of the Tar Heels’ ineptitude against Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils.
Regardless of that, Moore’s recruitment appears to be just a two-horse race between the storied Tobacco Road blue bloods, and the Tar Heels at least have a puncher’s chance of besting Coach K and the Blue Devils.
https://twitter.com/thewendellmoore/status/992539554786799617
Although Duke and North Carolina look like the prohibitive favorites in Moore’s recruitment, he did include North Carolina State, South Carolina and Wake Forest in his recent list of five finalists.
But don’t look for a decision from Moore until he has made an official visit to each of his five finalists, which could very well push his decision out to the 2019 spring signing period.
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.
Keion Brooks
Keion Brooks is one of the fastest rising prospects in the class of 2019 thanks to the tremendous versatility and star-power that he’s shown over the last year.
Brooks averaged 22.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a junior at North Side High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He’s put together similar stats this spring on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging 23 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Performances like that have helped Brooks gain national attention from scouts and coaches, jumping into the top-25 of the 247Sports Composite. In the process, he caught the eye of North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, who has begun to prioritize the talented five-star small forward.
It was just last month that North Carolina assistant coach Hubert Davis called Brooks on the phone to introduce himself and notify him of the Tar Heels’ interest. He and Williams followed that up by spending a substantial amount of time evaluating Brooks at the Nike EYBL session in Indianapolis.
The scholarship offer came just days later, officially putting the Tar Heels in the running for one of the class’s most athletic wings. And he’ll have no shortage of offers, having already picked up more than 20 to this point.
Florida State, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, Missouri, North Carolina State, UCLA, Xavier and a handful of other big name programs are currently in the hunt for Brooks.
A 6-foot-8, 185-pound small forward, Brooks is currently the No. 23 prospect in the class of 2019 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the fifth-ranked player at his position and the No. 3 prospect in the state of Indiana.
Josh Nickelberry
Things aren’t looking too good with Josh Nickelberry. At least, not if you’re a North Carolina fan.
The class of 2019 prospect was once seen as a player who might be putting up shots in the UNC back court. Those days have passed, though, and there seems to be little conversation, if any, between the two parties at this point.
The 6-foot-4, 175-pound shooting guard received a scholarship offer from Roy Williams and the Tar Heels in January of 2017. He made a handful of unofficial visits to North Carolina over the course of the following year, but things have since quieted down.
Nickelberry has offers from over 30 schools, but it’s Louisville who appears to have taken the lead in his recruitment. It makes sense, given Nickelberry’s interest in Xavier, where first-year Louisville head coach Chris Mack was prior to taking over for the Cardinals.
Louisville originally offered him a scholarship in July 2017, but Nickelberry took an unofficial visit to campus the second week of May. Since then, all of the momentum seems to be leaning the Cardinals’ direction.
Nickelberry also has interest in North Carolina State, but recent predictions published on 247Sports have his Crystal Ball heavily favoring Louisville. 87 percent of predictions put Nickelberry at Louisville next season, while UNC and NC State each have seven percent of the votes.
The four-star sharpshooter is the lowest-ranked North Carolina target in the 2019 class at No. 55 overall. He’s a top-10 shooting guard prospect and the No. 3 player in the state of North Carolina.
UNC’s 2019 freshman class might look something like this…
Vernon Carey
Contenders – Duke, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan State, North Carolina
Most likely – Duke
UNC’s chances – 10%
Roy Williams has put in the time with Carey, and North Carolina is a player in his recruitment. Duke is sitting in a really good position with the class’s top power forward, though, and he’ll likely end up in Durham.
Matthew Hurt
Contenders – Kansas, Minnesota, North Carolina
Most likely – Kansas
UNC’s chances – 15%
UNC fans were really optimistic about Hurt a year ago. However, Kansas and Minnesota have clearly taken the forefront in his recruitment, and Lawrence sounds like a probable destination for him in 2019.
Cole Anthony
Contenders – Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Oregon
Most likely – Duke
UNC’s chances – 10%
There’s not a team in the country that wouldn’t love to have Cole Anthony. As his fame grows, so will his list of scholarship offers. He’ll be able to choose from college basketball’s elite programs, and Duke will certainly be one of those.
Jalen Lecque
Contenders – Kentucky, North Carolina, NC State, Oregon, Tennessee
Most likely – Kentucky
UNC’s chances – 15%
The Tar Heels are currently in a pretty good position with Jalen Lecque, but so are a number of other programs. His recruitment is wide open, but he’s a guy that could easily end up in Lexington with Big Blue Nation.
Will Baker
Contenders – Baylor, Kansas, North Carolina, Stanford, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA
Most likely – North Carolina / UCLA
UNC’s chances – 40%
Will Baker’s got several schools coming at him pretty hard. North Carolina is one of them. Unfortunately for UNC fans, though, Kansas and UCLA are a couple of the others. His recruitment is up in the air, but the Tar Heels have a decent shot at snagging the talented center.
Armando Bacot
Contenders – Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA, VCU
Most likely – North Carolina
UNC’s chances – 70%
The Tar Heels are doing really well with Armando Bacot. As of now, all signs point to him ending up in Chapel Hill next year. Duke is involved with his recruitment, though, and we’ve seen these things turn quickly in the past.
Wendell Moore
Contenders – Duke, North Carolina, NC State, South Carolina, Wake Forest
Most likely – Duke
UNC’s chances – 10%
Speaking of things turning quickly, Wendell Moore was once viewed as a strong UNC lean. Then Duke offered him a scholarship, and the rest is history. Moore will definitely play in the Dean Dome, but only as a visitor.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Contenders – Kansas, North Carolina
Most likely – Kansas
UNC’s chances – 40%
Geographically speaking, Kansas has the advantage in recruiting Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. North Carolina does have Roy Williams, though, and his ties with Earl’s family run deep. This one could go either way.
Keion Brooks
Contenders – Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina
Most likely – Michigan State
UNC’s chances – 15%
The Tar Heels have come on strong with Keion Brooks in recent weeks, but it may be too little, too late. They didn’t offer him a scholarship until May 1st, and a couple of Big 10 teams may already have their claws in too deep.
Josh Nickelberry
Contenders – Louisville, North Carolina, NC State, Xavier
Most likely – Louisville
UNC’s chances – 5%
The Tar Heels were looking good with Josh Nickelberry some time ago, but things have dramatically changed since then. This four-star shooter is headed to Louisville.