UNC Basketball: Ranking the 10 recruiting classes of the decade

No. 4: 2013 Class

Isaiah Hicks, Kennedy Meeks, and Nate Britt

How can you not look back and see how extremely valuable this class was for the stability of the program.

After a down season, this trio came into Chapel Hill and became either starters or major role players immediately. What’s even better is all three stayed all four years, becoming one of the winningest classes in Carolina history.

Staring with Isaiah Hicks, the five-star recruit never really lived up to the high expectations he had when committing to UNC. Being named the ACC Sixth Man of the Year in his junior season, his senior year rolled around as his only year as a starter. After an up-and-down year, he made one of the biggest plays in Carolina history, that may be forgotten.

In the 2017 National Championship, Hicks hit a floater with 27 seconds left – and at the end of the shot clock – to take a three-point lead, ultimately being the bucket that would lead the Tar Heels to victory.

As for Hicks’ front court mate, Kennedy Meeks came into UNC out of shape and a bit lazy, but finished his Carolina career as a dominant force in the paint on both ends.

Starting in 117 of his 144 games played, Meeks played critical parts on all four teams he was apart of. After a bit of a disappointing junior season, his senior year was terrific as he put on a show down the stretch of the season in the NCAA Tournament. Securing the game-winning rebound in a 25-point, 14-rebound performance in the Final Four against Oregon, Meeks also had a game-sealing block against Nigel Williams-Goss in the National Title game.

The final member of the class was Nate Britt. Starting the first 10 games of his UNC career, Britt found a great role throughout his career as the backup point guard, a very important one in the Roy Williams offense.

A very steady guard for the Tar Heels, Britt was able to play alongside Joel Berry or Marcus Paige in his career, and excel in any role.

All together, this class was one of the most important classes for Roy Williams entire Carolina era, and definitely the past decade.