UNC Basketball: Tar Heels remain favorite for this 5-star prospect

UNC basketball program remains favorite for this 5-star prospect from the class of 2020

When the Duke and North Carolina basketball programs square off on the recruiting trail, it’s the Blue Devils that often have the edge in signing high-end talent. But that may not be the case with at least one 5-star player in the class of 2020.

Despite recent conjecture that the Blue Devils’ recruiting efforts with Ziaire Williams have potentially made them the front-runner in his recruitment, there’s still a fairly consensus belief that North Carolina holds the edge for the top-10 prospect’s commitment.

National recruiting analyst Corey Evans reiterated in his recruiting roundup on Friday morning that the Tar Heels should still be considered the favorite for Williams.

"“Williams is down to a final seven that consists of Arizona, Duke, North Carolina, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA and USC, and the Tar Heels and the Cardinal have separated themselves from the pack,” Evans writes. “He visited each last winter and could return in the coming months. UCLA has picked up ground, and so has Duke, which just offered last month. If Williams were to select Stanford, it would be the biggest win of Jerod Haase’s career on the recruiting front, but UNC remains the one to beat. Duke is rarely considered a dark horse, but it is in regards to Williams.”"

The battle between UNC’s Williams and his long-time former assistant coach, Jerod Hasse, has made for an interesting dynamic in this high-profile recruitment. While the Tar Heels do still seem to have the edge, Stanford has built a great relationship with Williams, and has the advantage of being much closer to his home in Chatsworth, California.

Known for his physicality and versatility on both ends of the floor, Williams has a terrific offensive game that helped him average better than 27 points per game on the Nike EYBL circuit this year. He’s got a nice jump shot with range beyond the three-point line. He’s more likely to knock down a jumper off a couple dribbles than taking it all the way to the goal, but he does have the ability to put the ball on the floor and drive the lane. Williams’ size and length will allow him to guard multiple positions on the floor, and play different roles on offense.

Williams is the No. 7 prospect in the class of 2020 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the third-ranked small forward in his class, and No. 4 in the state of California.

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