UNC Basketball: Tar Heels targeting new 2019 prospect?
Roy Williams has his sights set on a new target in the class of 2019
Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels have added another talented front court player to their growing list of 2019 targets.
In a recent interview with Rivals recruiting analyst Eric Bossi, four-star power forward E.J. Liddell confirmed that the Tar Heels are involved in his recruitment, and have been for some time now. It’s not just North Carolina that’s been checking in on Liddell, though. Duke has been, too.
"“They have just been calling me and telling me how they like good players in their programs and they might offer me after this weekend if I have a good week,” Liddell said of Duke and North Carolina."
Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski were both in North Augusta last week to watch Liddell play at the Nike Peach Jam. It was there that Liddell talked to Bossi about his experiences with each coach to this point.
"“They just introduced themselves and said that they’ve been watching me for a long time,” Liddell said of North Carolina. “They just love good basketball players and they love my versatility.”"
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound big man has had dealings with Duke, too, namely the relationship he’s built with Krzyzewski over the past year or so.
"“I talked with him twice, about a month ago and then before this week,” Liddell said of Krzyzewski. “He’s been watching me since last year when I was playing with Darius Garland and he said he loves how hard I play and I play my role on the team as a great team player.”"
Liddell has already racked up more than a dozen scholarship offers including ones from Connecticut, Florida, Georgetown, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisville, Missouri, Ohio State and Texas A&M among others. He told Bossi that Purdue and Wisconsin are both involved in his recruitment as well.
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The general consensus to this point is that Illinois, Kansas State, Missouri and Ohio State are the programs who have put in the most work, and positioned themselves best with the top-50 big man. Liddell is looking to trim his list of potential schools down by the end of July, and Bossi expects him to make a college decision during college basketball’s early period.
Liddell is the No. 46 prospect in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s a top-10 power forward in the class and the No. 2 player in the state of Illinois.
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Stick with Keeping It Heel for more on the Tar Heels’ interactions with Liddell, as well as any developments in his recruitment.