UNC Basketball: Tar Heels have new 2020 target in their sights?

The UNC basketball program is one of a handful that have recently joined the recruitment of this rising 5-star prospect

Dawson Garcia is a rising star from the class of 2020, and he’s beginning to get the royal treatment on the recruiting trail.

The top-30 prospect from Prior Lake, Minnesota has been playing well both in high school and on the grassroots circuit, and some of the biggest names in college basketball are noticing. Garcia already holds scholarship offers from more than a dozen schools including Arizona, Baylor, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Purdue, Texas, Wisconsin and Xavier.

He’s hosted a number of in-home visits in recent months — including Kentucky assistant coach Joel Justus — and made trips to Baylor, Iowa, Marquette and Texas.

After winning a gold medal for the United States at the FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup, and attending the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Virginia, Garcia talked to college basketball insider Adam Zagoria about his recruitment, and some of the programs pushing hardest for him.

Garcia mentioned several Big 10 and Midwest programs that have him on their respective radars, including Indiana, Marquette and the hometown favorite Minnesota Golden Gophers. He also told Zagoria that he’s recently begun hearing from powerhouse programs like Duke, Gonzaga, Kentucky and North Carolina, noting that the location of his future school has absolutely nothing to do with his decision.

"“Geography doesn’t really affect me at all,” Garcia said. “I like the nice weather, but being from Minnesota, winter doesn’t bother me at all, four seasons doesn’t really affect me. Being far away from home or being close doesn’t really matter to me, just my relationship with the coaching staff and how comfortable I feel about that school.”"

Garcia is a 6-foot-11, 220-pound center with loads of potential, both at the collegiate level and as a future NBA player. His tremendous length helps him block and alter shots. He’s a good rebounder, and passes the ball well. He’s equipped with a good jump shot that allows him to extend defenses out to the three-point line. Once he puts on some more weight, he’ll be able to impose his will against opponents in the paint.

There’s no real feel for where Garcia will end up at this time, but he plans to make a decision some time in the fall. He’s the No. 29 prospect in the class of 2020 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the fourth-ranked player at his position, and No. 2 in the state of Minnesota.

Stick with Keeping It Heel as the Tar Heels continue to turn up the heat in the Dawson Garcia recruitment.