Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Latest on five-star UNC target from Kansas

By Blake Cockrum

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 24: (L-R) Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks greets head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels prior to coaching against each other during the third round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on March 24, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 24: (L-R) Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks greets head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels prior to coaching against each other during the third round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on March 24, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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Jayhawks may be the team to beat for this five-star prospect

Roy Williams and the North Carolina coaching staff are done with the 2018 recruiting class and focused primarily on the class of 2019 now.

One of the program’s main focuses for the immediate future is getting commitments from talented front court players. One of those players is 6-foot-10, 240-pound Armando Bacot, a five-star center and one of the prospects that Williams has clearly prioritized in the 2019 class.

Another is Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, a talented big man and the son of former Kansas basketball player Lester Earl. At 6-foot-9 and 235-pounds, Robinson-Earl possesses both the size and skill to be an impact player from day one.

The five-star power forward just completed his junior year at Bishop Miege High School in Mission, Kansas where he averaged 21.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He’s following that up with a strong showing on the Under Armour Association circuit, averaging 19.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game for KC Run GMC.

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.

Unlike Bacot, though, who appears to be favoring the Tar Heels over the multitude of programs recruiting him, Robinson-Earl looks to be leaning toward Kansas. And it makes sense, given his father’s affiliation with the program and the proximity to his home in Roeland Park, Kansas.

Robinson-Earl spent the weekend at the U-18 USA Basketball trials in Colorado Springs where he again played well, getting lots of attention for his hard work and effort on the interior. Rivals’ recruiting analyst Corey Evans was on hand to watch Robinson-Earl and a number of other top prospects, and had high praise for the Kansas native.

"“Jeremiah Robinson-Earl has been primarily known for his polished skillset and elite hands that have made him so productive around the basket,” Evans said. “In Colorado Springs, Robinson-Earl remained an effective interior piece but he made an even larger impression with his constant involvement in the 50-50 plays. A 6-foot-9, strong and mobile big man that can play either position in the frontcourt, Robinson-Earl has been a heavily pursued prospect since his freshman year.Kansas remains the favorite and being coached by Bill Self at the USA Basketball training camp might not hurt the Jayhawks, but one thing is for sure and that is Robinson-Earl continues to impress with his tremendous instincts, well-oiled motor and the capacity to produce regardless of competition levels.”"

Evans describes a talented, efficient, high-energy player that perfectly fits the mold of what the Tar Heels are looking for. It’s that type of player that could’ve helped the Tar Heels avoid the 21-point drubbing they took from Texas A&M in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

Williams and his coaching staff – Hubert Davis, in particular – have come on strong in recent months, and certainly figure to play a role in Robinson-Earl’s recruitment. But will geography, his father’s legacy at Kansas and the growing relationship between him and Bill Self be too much for the Tar Heels to overcome?

Next: Sterling Manley poised for big season? The numbers say so.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Robinson-Earl, and the class of 2019.

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