UNC Basketball: Tar Heels need to sign 2 of these 5 players in 2019 class

Armando Bacot

Five-star big man Armando Bacot may be the Tar Heels’ best chance at landing a top-25 prospect in the class of 2019.

North Carolina has been recruiting Bacot for some time now, having offered him a scholarship back in August of 2017. Williams has made multiple trips to see him play over the course of the last six months. The talented big man responded in kind, making unofficial visits to Chapel Hill during the season to watch the Tar Heels play games against NC State and Duke.

Bacot became a clear priority for Williams early on, attempting to fill a hole that’s been in the UNC front court since the departure of Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks and Tony Bradley in 2017. And to this point, his efforts appear to be paying off.

All 13 of the Crystal Ball predictions published by 247Sports belong to the Tar Heels. That includes Director of Scouting, Jerry Meyer, who made his prediction in late-March.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pound center out of Trinity Episcopal School in Richmond, Virginia has tremendous size, skill and athleticism. He’s a blue-collar worker in the paint, and finishes well around the rim. He’s a great rebounder and good passer for his position.

Getting a commitment from Bacot would be huge for Williams and the Tar Heels, particularly in preparation for the graduation of seniors Luke Maye, Cameron Johnson and Kenny Williams. Not to mention, the likely departure of freshman phenom Nassir Little.

Bacot is the No. 26 overall prospect in the class of 2019 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the seventh-ranked center in the class, and the No. 4 prospect in the state of Florida.