UNC Basketball: 5-star UNC target receives Duke offer

5-star UNC basketball target receives scholarship offer from Duke Blue Devils

When Roy Williams and the North Carolina basketball program began recruiting 5-star class of 2020 prospect Ziaire Williams, it looked like their biggest competition might come from ex-UNC assistant coach Jerod Hasse and the Stanford Cardinal. After news of Williams’ most recent scholarship offer, though, it might be another commitment that’s won and lost on the eight-mile stretch of Tobacco Road that separates the Tar Heels and Blue Devils.

The 6-foot-9, 185-pound Williams received the call from Duke on Wednesday night, and promptly announced news of his latest offer via his personal Twitter account. Along with North Carolina, Duke and Stanford, he’s landed nearly 20 other scholarship offers, including ones from Arizona, Cal, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Per the usual, though, we find North Carolina and Duke going after the same players on the recruiting trail, a story that’s been told many times before. In recent years, the Blue Devils have had a clear advantage over the Tar Heels, nabbing commitments from the likes of Brandon Ingram, Harry Giles III, Zion Williamson and Wendell Moore — each of which were heavily recruited by UNC. However, North Carolina is on the uptick, getting commitments from four 5-star recruits of its own over the last two recruiting cycles.

Now that the Tar Heels and Blue Devils have both offered Williams, it certainly makes things more interesting. Yet again, one of high school basketball’s most coveted players could end up deciding between college hoops’ most storied rivals. On the other hand, Williams could have no interest in the Blue Devils, and the Duke offer might not change a thing in his recruitment. It’s just too early to say at this time.

We’ll know a lot more once Williams compiles a list of finalists, and begins taking official visits. Don’t be shocked, though, when both the Tar Heels and Blue Devils end up on that final list, and go toe-to-toe for yet another high-profile recruit.

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