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UNC Basketball: 5-star UNC target deciding between these three teams?

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts to a call by the officials during the second half of their game against the Virginia Cavaliers at the Dean Smith Center on February 11, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Virginia won 69-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts to a call by the officials during the second half of their game against the Virginia Cavaliers at the Dean Smith Center on February 11, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Virginia won 69-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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This 5-star UNC basketball target named his list of six finalists on Friday, but could be deciding between these three teams

The North Carolina Tar Heels have been fortunate to sign a pair of 5-star point guards over the past two seasons — Coby White in 2018, and Cole Anthony in 2019. White left North Carolina for the NBA after just one season, and it’s a mere certainty that Anthony will do the same thing following his freshman year at UNC.

That’s why Roy Williams and the Tar Heels are in hot pursuit of an elite point guard in the class of 2020 to fill the likely void left by Anthony next spring. One of the top guards on their recruiting board is Caleb Love, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound senior from Christian Brothers College in St. Louis, Missouri.

On Friday night, Love released his list of six finalists. He made the announcement via his personal Twitter account, naming North Carolina to a list that also includes Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville and Missouri.

https://twitter.com/caleb2love/status/1157433641447972864

Despite having a final list that includes a half-dozen teams, a trio of Rivals recruiting analysts believe Love’s decision will likely come down to just three programs: Kansas, Louisville and North Carolina.

Rivals’ Dan McDonald, for one, is picking North Carolina as the school that will ultimately win out in Love’s recruitment. He also echoed the general consensus of his colleagues that the Jayhawks, Cardinals and Tar Heels should be the favorites for a commitment.

"“It would surprise me if Love’s recruitment doesn’t come down to a battle among Kansas, Louisville and North Carolina,” McDonald writes. “All three will be in need of a point guard ready to run the team the second he steps on campus. I’ll take a little bit of a shot in the dark and predict North Carolina wins out here, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Kansas or Louisville comes out on top.”"

There are no predictions in Love’s Crystal Ball, but Eric Bossi noted last month that he likes the Tar Heels’ current position with the class of 2020, and that Love could be one of the program’s most likely additions. He doubled-down on those sentiments this week, saying that “as of today, I think it’s a real close call between them [the Jayhawks] and the two ACC programs.”

Love is an athletic, score-first guard that can play either back court position. He’s a good passer and facilitator, but his ability to pour in buckets — and in bunches — is the hallmark of his game. His style of play would translate well to a fast-paced, uptempo offense like that of the Tar Heels.

Love is ranked No. 25 in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite for the class of 2020. He’s the fourth-ranked player at his position, and No. 1 in the state of Missouri.

Next. These are the 15 Tar Heels opposing fans hated most. dark

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

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