UNC Basketball: Tar Heels’ 5-star target reclassifying to 2019 class?

5-star prospect, UNC target looking to reclassify to 2019 class?

One of the top prospects in the class of 2020 is reportedly researching the steps for a potential reclassification to the 2019 class.

Isaiah Todd, a 5-star power forward out of Richmond, Virginia, recently told Rivals’ Corey Evans that he and his family are investigating the proper avenues to enroll in college this fall. If he does decide to move up a class and attend college in 2019, it will considerably speed up the time frame for an announcement, and potentially alter his decision on a school.

The consensus top-20 prospect already made headlines this season when he transferred from John Marshall (Richmond, VA) to Trinity Academy of Raleigh for his junior year. A reclassification, though, would have even bigger implications for the talented big man, and the school that he chooses to attend.

The implications could be so big, in fact, that it might make the program previously considered to be an early favorite in his recruitment — North Carolina — look like more of a long-shot.

As Evans points out, Kentucky is yet to offer Todd a scholarship, but stands to lose its two best front court players at the end of the season. If Reid Travis and P.J. Washington indeed leave, it opens up starting position, and a lot of playing time for a player of Todd’s caliber.

Todd could potentially earn a starting spot at North Carolina, but it might not be as easy for him as it would be in Lexington. The Tar Heels already have a top-20 big man joining the team this fall in 6-foot-10, 235-pound Armando Bacot. They’ve also got a couple of up-and-coming sophomore bigs on the squad in current starter Garrison Brooks and reserve forward Sterling Manley.

The addition of Todd could create a bit of a log-jam in the Tar Heels’ front court, and a likely one-and-done player might want to avoid that type of situation. If Todd knows he can get the playing time that he desires at Kentucky, as well as the same kind of national exposure, then the Wildcats may look like a more favorable option to him.

He did, however, have good things to say about the Tar Heels when speaking to Rivals earlier this season about his recruitment and potential suitors.

"“I don’t have any favorites, but UNC being so close and it being about basketball, I try to get out there as much as I can,” Todd said. “They like to do things in a family-oriented way and get to know you more compared to others.”"

Of course, all of this is just conjecture and there is no real indication from Todd or his camp that he is leaning one way or another. It’s a waiting game at this point, but I do expect his recruitment to speed up exponentially as a reclassification to 2019 seems fairly likely.

Todd currently holds scholarship offers from more than 20 schools including Kansas, Florida, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, UCLA, Villanova and Wake Forest.

He’s the No. 13 prospect in the 2020 class according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the No. 2 power forward in the class, and the top player from the state of Virginia.

Stick with Keeping It Heel in the coming months for more on Todd, and everything North Carolina basketball.