UNC Basketball: Sports Illustrated high on freshman Nassir Little
Sports Illustrated has high praise for UNC freshman wing Nassir Little
Roy Williams and the North Carolina men’s basketball program got a good one in freshman wing Nassir Little.
The 6-foot-7, 205-pound small forward has been as impressive as any high school player in the country over the last six months, shooting up recruiting rankings and becoming a household name in the process.
He was named MVP of both the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, the two most prestigious all-star games in high school basketball. He displayed his tremendous athleticism and offensive prowess at both events, and became a top-5 prospect according to every recruiting outlet in the free world not named ESPN.
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Also on the rise is Little’s NBA draft stock, which has risen substantially since showcasing his abilities on national television multiple times this spring.
Sports Illustrated recently released its 2019 NBA Draft Big Board, naming the top 60 players that will be eligible for next year’s draft. Little nabbed the No. 3 spot on the list behind Duke freshmen R.J. Barrett and Cameron Reddish.
SI’s Jeremy Woo had the following to say about Little, and discusses exactly why he’s risen so high on draft boards in recent months:
"“No player did more for himself on the high school All-Star circuit than Little, who’s become a known commodity rather quickly with his scoring ability at all three levels. Already mature physically, Little has a relentless mentality on both ends of the floor, gets downhill to the rim easily and can be a disruptive on-ball defender with his 7’1″ wingspan.He’s improving as a jump shooter, and the next step is improving his shot selection and handle. He’s big, tough and quick enough to keep up with most opponents, and could be a power wing at the next level à la Jaylen Brown. Little appears to be trending upward, and will be a major part of a UNC team that will have high expectations.”"
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There’s no doubt that expectations for Little are extremely high in what could very well be his only season in college. Whether or not he makes it into the Tar Heels’ starting lineup – a debate that’s been going on for months now – should have very little to do with his ability to positively impact the team.
Even if Little comes off of the bench this season, he will get starter’s minutes and plenty of opportunities in a fast-paced North Carolina offense that should perfectly fit his skill set and style of play.
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Stick with Keeping It Heel for updates on Little and the Tar Heels throughout the offseason.