UNC Basketball: Where do Tar Heels stand with Vernon Carey Jr.?

A recruiting analyst reveals where he thinks Vernon Carey Jr. stands as of now in his recruitment and where he could end up

Roy Williams and his staff have been active in searching for a talented wing for the 2019 recruiting class, spending the open evaluation periods watching numerous players. With Jeremiah Francis signed as a point guard, Williams has been out on the recruiting trail scouting some of the best players in this class.

One player Williams has been after for a long time is Vernon Carey Jr.

The five-star forward is ranked as the No. 2 player in the 2019 class according to the 247 Sports composite rankings and recently put out his final list, including UNC. Joining the Tar Heels on his final list were Duke, Michigan State, Kentucky and Miami.

While the Blue Devils lead in the 247 Sports Crystal Ball with 54% of the predictions, many think Carey Jr.’s recruitment is wide-open.

Rivals reporter Corey Evans dropped his Twitter Tuesday mailbag where he answers recruiting questions each week. This week Evans was asked where he thinks Carey Jr. will eventually end up when it’s all said and done.

Evans said that there’s a lot of time still left in his recruitment and he will take his official visits soon. As for the chances to land him, Evans discussed every team including the Tar Heels.

Here’s what he had to say about that:

"Duke was the favorite a year ago and had created a ton of momentum in Carey’s recruitment. Fast-forward to today and Carey is no closer to a Blue Devils’ commitment, a sign that the other four in the hunt have a puncher’s chance.Miami’s connection to Carey and his family cannot be topped. Kentucky has picked things up, and North Carolina has remained a factor, too."

The Tar Heels have paid close attention to Carey Jr. as of late, watching him during the open evaluation period at the end of July. While they may not be the frontrunners, the fact that they remain a possibility and continue to show interest is good.

As for who Evans thinks lands him, he thinks Michigan State and Duke are the two to beat when it’s all said and done.

But let’s just hope he’s playing in the Big Ten if he’s not in Carolina Blue next year.

For more on North Carolina Tar Heels basketball recruiting targets, please check back with Keeping It Heel.