UNC Basketball: Armando Bacot updates recruitment

UNC Basketball target Armando Bacot updates his recruitment after playing in a tournament in Atlanta

Class of 2019 prospect Armando Bacot has emerged as one of the top targets for Roy Williams and the University of North Carolina.

Williams has spent a lot of time watching Bacot during the live periods in the Spring and now in July again. Most recently, Williams watched Bacot and Team Takeover dominate the EYBL circuit by capping it off with a championship at the Nike Peach Jam in South Carolina.

The five-star recruit is one of the top players in the 2019 class and has really elevated his game during the AAU sessions. At the Peach Jam, Bacot averaged a double-double and was named the MVP of the tournament by D1Circuit.

He currently holds offers from 37 programs including UNC, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and Louisville among others. While Bacot’s play has been of note lately, his recruitment has remained silent.

There hasn’t been much on Bacot after he took an unofficial visit to Chapel Hill back in Feburary to take in a  UNC-Duke game. From there, the trendy pick in the 247 Sports Crystal Ball turned from Duke to UNC, leading many to believe that the Tar Heels were the favorites.

While playing in Atlanta in the Super 6 Tournament Bacot spoke to Rivals recruiting analyst Dan McDonald and provided an update on his recruitment. The power forward hinted that his decision could be coming sooner than we think.

"“I have my top 10, but Kentucky has been reaching out and Georgia is another school that has been talking to me a lot,” Bacot said. “I plan on releasing my top five sometime in August, probably in the middle of August. I’ll probably make my decision after my official visits unless I just get that feeling before I’m done with them all. I plan on signing early.”"

The key thing to note about the quote is that Bacot ends it with “I plan on signing early” which means he will have a decision before the early signing period in November.

Bacot plans on releasing his top five in the coming weeks and we’d be shocked if UNC didn’t make the list. From there, it’s likely that he will take an official visit in Chapel Hill.

With Jeremiah Francis signed and Williams pursuing several wing in the 2019 class, it would be nice to land a big man in the post. The Tar Heels will have to reload in the post as Sterling Manley, Garrison Brooks and Brandon Huffman will be entering their junior seasons when the 2019 class rolls in.

Next: Roy Williams shows interest in 2019 PG

For more on Bacot and other UNC recruiting targets, please check back with Keeping It Heel.