UNC Basketball: Tar Heels not likely to get this 5-star prospect

UNC basketball has its best recruiting class in more than a decade, but it likely won’t add this 5-star prospect to the mix in 2020

When class of 2020 5-star prospect Bryce Thompson announces his college decision on Tuesday morning, the North Carolina Tar Heels aren’t likely to hear their name called.

Thompson recently named four finalists — Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State — and the quartette wasn’t all that surprising to anyone. The three Big 12 teams, in particular, were expected to be there at the end of Thompson’s recruitment. And they are, each with an opportunity to snag one of the most talented uncommitted players left in the class.

North Carolina, on the other hand, isn’t expected to have even the slightest chance at signing the player ranked No. 19 overall according to the 247Sports Composite. It probably didn’t help the Tar Heels’ chances any when 4-star shooting guard Donovan “Puff” Johnson announced his own commitment to North Carolina, adding to an already stacked class that’s oozing talent at just about every position.

But let’s be honest, nobody thought Thompson was committing to the Tar Heels anyway. Johnson’s pledge may have solidified Thompson’s decision to not choose North Carolina, but that’s the extent of it.

Experts and analysts on 247Sports heavily favor the Jayhawks, who currently account for 82 percent of votes in Thompson’s Crystal Ball. The Sooners are in second-place with 18 percent. And although the Cowboys don’t seem to have a ton of momentum, there are those that believe Thompson could be very interested in teaming up with newly cemented Oklahoma State commit Cade Cunningham.

Rivals’ Eric Bossi went as far to exclude the Tar Heels from his most recent piece on Thompson.

"“The recruiting is done, the pitches have been heard and all that is left for five-star shooting guard Bryce Thompson of Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington to do is announce his choice,” Bossi said. “That pick of Kansas, Oklahoma or Oklahoma State will happen Tuesday morning. . .”"

It’s not certain at this time where Thompson will pick when he makes his announcement on Tuesday morning, but I’m comfortable saying it won’t be North Carolina.

For all the latest on the Bryce Thompson recruitment, and everything UNC basketball, stick with Keeping It Heel.