UNC Basketball: Competition heating up for this 2020 target

Roy Williams and the UNC basketball program are hoping to reel in this class of 2020 prospect, but competition is stiff, and it won’t be easy.

Lance Ware may be a new name for some fans, and his recruitment one that they’re less familiar with than others. But that doesn’t mean that the big man from Burlington, New Jersey isn’t already a hot commodity on the recruiting trail.

In fact, scouts and coaches have been watching him play, and analyzing his game for some time now. He’s got nearly a dozen scholarship offers to show for it, including ones from Clemson, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Providence and Virginia Tech. But as his recruitment heats up, so, too, does the competition; which there is plenty of right now.

Louisville and Marquette are keeping an eye on him, as well as some of college basketball’s blue bloods; namely Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina. And although offers haven’t been extended from the five aforementioned schools, it wouldn’t be surprising to see that happen in the near future.

Rivals recruiting analyst Eric Bossi recently wrote about the Ware recruitment, highlighting his personal experience with the 4-star big man’s recruitment, and why he’s such a highly coveted prospect for some of college basketball’s most prestigious coaches.

"“Ware isn’t an off-the-radar guy,” Bossi writes. “He’s been well known for some time. But, I received more phone calls asking for information about Ware than any other player over the course of the past few weeks. Ware is mobile, quick and skilled and has really started to figure out ways to score on the interior without floating to the perimeter. His recruitment is about to go crazy.”"

The Tar Heels may want to add Ware to their 2020 freshman class — and they may very well do it — but it won’t be easy. Competition for the top-50 prospect is stiff, and they’ll have to battle some of the sport’s most renown college hoops programs to do so.

A 6-foot-9, 215-pound power forward out of Camden High School, Ware is the No. 47 prospect in the class of 2020 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the No. 8 player at his position, and second in the state of New Jersey.

There’s no known timeline for Ware’s decision at this point, nor is there any real feel for what school he’ll eventually commit to. His Crystal Ball is currently empty.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Lance Ware recruitment, and everything UNC basketball.