UNC Basketball: 5-star PG will decide between 4 prolific hoops programs

2020 point guard will decide between 4 of college basketball’s top programs

With just a few decisions left to be made in the class of 2019 — albeit very important ones — Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels are now knee-deep with prospects from the 2020 and 2021 recruiting classes.

Among the players that Williams and company are targeting in the class of 2020 is Jeremy Roach, a 5-star point guard out of Fairfax, Virginia that’s currently working with a final list of four schools.

Those four schools represent three-quarters of college basketball’s blue bloods, and a near-blue blood in Jay Wright’s Villanova Wildcats. The other three — Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina — are vying for a player that most consider to be the top point guard in his class.

Roach, who will miss his entire junior season due to a nine-month recovery and rehab from knee surgery, cut his list at the beginning of November. It was then that he decided to prioritize his four favorites, and begin vetting and visiting each.

In a recent discussion with Rivals recruiting analyst Corey Evans, Roach talked about his recruitment, finalists, and relationship with UNC to this point.

"“UNC is trying to get me down for a game soon, so I am trying to get down there next month,” Roach said. “Duke, they want for me to get down to a game soon, too, and Kentucky wants for me to do an official visit there in the spring.They [UNC] are saying that they can help fulfill my dreams and help me get to the NBA and that it is the best way for me to go.”"

A 6-foot-2, 165-pound junior at Paul VI Catholic, Roach is a terrific ball-handler and game manager. He uses both hands well, whether he’s dribbling the ball or shooting it, and has a great mid-range game. He’s best-suited when shooting pull-up jumpers or floaters, and can play above the rim and through traffic. He’s a smart player, and possesses good court vision. He’s also a tenacious defender that has to ability to change the game on both ends of the court.

Kentucky has been seen as the favorite in Roach’s recruitment to this point, but it definitely appears as if he is open to any of his four finalists. Current Crystal Ball projections show Big Blue Nation as a 67 percent favorite over Villanova, but most of the votes date back prior to November.

Hayes is the No. 16 prospect in the class of 2020 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the top point guard in the class, and the No. 1 player in the state of Virginia.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Roach, and everything North Carolina basketball.