UNC Basketball: Analyst predicts Tar Heels’ target will commit to Duke

A big UNC Basketball target in the 2020 recruiting class is predicted to commit to Duke according to a recruiting analyst as he’s set to take his visits

The North Carolina Tar Heels are hoping to add to their 2020 recruiting class that already features five-star center Day’Ron Sharpe committed.

Roy Williams and his staff are looking to add not on the wing but in the post as well. Having a five-star player like Sharpe committed is huge but getting another elite talent in the post would be beneficial.

One of those targets is five-star center Walker Kessler out of Georgia. The 6-foot-10, 225-pound center recently released his list of six finalists that included the Tar Heels and he plans on taking visits to those schools soon.

But one recruiting analyst thinks it’s a matter of time before he commits to a program that will make UNC fans upset.

In his “McDonald’s Nuggets” column on Friday, Rivals recruiting analyst Dan McDonald spent some time breaking down the recruitment of Kessler. He provided some details about the recruitment and even made a prediction which doesn’t favor the Tar Heels.

Here is what he said regarding Kessler’s recruitment:

"North Carolina has come on really strong lately and could make it interesting down the stretch with a great visit. But not being “all in” like the other schools have been the whole way through could be a problem.So again, that takes us back to Auburn and Duke. I still think it will be Duke in the end. It’s the type of prestigious program that satisfies his strong academics and has the track record of producing NBA players lately. The uncertainty at Auburn right now with the NCAA doesn’t help either."

To McDonald’s point, UNC has shown interest in Kessler but hasn’t gone “all in” on his recruitment yet. Williams has met with the five star and has even travelled to go watch him play but the Tar Heels have put their stock into other big men in the class like Greg Brown, Dawson Garcia and Hunter Dickinson.

Kessler will still take all of his visits and he’s expected to be on UNC’s campus on the weekend of September 20th. The Tar Heels football team will host Appalachian State at home that weekend, so Kessler will be able to take in a football game as well.

While McDonald is predicting Duke, UNC will still have the chance to impress Kessler and possibly steal him away from the Blue Devils. There is a long way to go in his recruitment but as it stands now, Duke and Auburn appear to be the favorites.

For more on UNC Basketball recruiting targets, please check back with Keeping It Heel.