UNC Basketball: 5-star UNC target’s recruitment heating up

5-star UNC basketball target is one of the fastest rising prospects in the class of 2020

Bryce Thompson is one of the fastest rising prospects in the class of 2020, and the North Carolina Tar Heels are among the programs working hardest for a commitment from him.

Thompson was the No. 70 overall prospect in January according to the 247Sports Composite, but has moved up 50 spots to No. 20 in the site’s updated list that was released in early July. The quick rise to 5-star status has brought Thompson additional fanfare and media exposure, along with a growing list of scholarship offers from some of the most prestigious college basketball programs in the nation.

Among the schools to have already offered Thompson are Arkansas, Colorado, Houston, Kansas, Michigan State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M. I’d expect that list to continue to grow over the next few months, as he’s been one of the most consistent players on the amateur circuit this summer.

247Sports national recruiting analyst Evan Daniels was impressed with Thompson’s work at the Under Armor Finals, naming him the top performer during July’s evaluation period.

"“It’s been cool to see the rise of Thompson,” Daniels writes. “Although he was regarded as a top 100 player last year, he’s progressively gotten better and has moved his way into the five-star range. During the Under Armour Finals, Thompson played with extreme confidence. In an evaluation on the final day, Thompson was aggressive off the bounce, got all the way to the rim for nifty finishes, made mid-range pull-ups and knocked down three-pointers. He’s one of the more advanced scorers in the 2020 class.”"

Thompson has good size and length for a guard. He’s also a good ball handler with a terrific offensive game that allows him to score from all over the court. He can run the break — something that would be used at North Carolina with regularity — as well as create his own shot off the dribble. He’s also a good distributor, and a consistent threat to knock down shots from beyond the arc.

A 6-foot-5, 175-pound combo guard, Thompson plays tenacious defense on the opposite end of the court thanks to his wiry frame and basketball savvy — which should allow him to guard multiple positions at the college level. And given the improvement that he’s shown over the past season, he doesn’t even appear to have reached his full potential yet.

Thompson is ranked No. 20 overall according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s fourth among players at his position, and tops in the state of Oklahoma.

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