UNC Basketball: Three future Tar Heels invited to Jordan Brand Classic

The UNC basketball program will be represented by three future Tar Heels at the 2020 Jordan Brand Classic.

The 2020 Jordan Brand Classic will feature three future North Carolina basketball players. Day’Ron Sharpe, Caleb Love and R.J. Davis are three of the Tar Heels’ five-man 2020 recruiting class, and each will be appearing in the prestigious all-star game.

All three were invited to this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game, too, along with 5-star running mate Walker Kessler. It’s somewhat surprising that Kessler, a consensus top-20 prospect, wasn’t invited to the 28-player Jordan Brand Classic game. Duke’s Mark Williams has been named to the Jordan Brand roster, despite being a 4-star prospect that’s ranked No. 29 in the 247Sports Composite.

Sharpe is a 6-foot-10, 250-pound center out of Montverde, Florida that’s ranked 14th in the 247Sports Composite. Third among centers in the class and third in the state of Florida, Sharpe is a high-energy big man that runs the floor effectively, and rebounds the ball extraordinarily well. His size and athleticism help him defend the post well, blocking shots and affecting others. His offensive game isn’t as refined as other big men in the class, but his ceiling might be higher. He’s got great hands, and plays with a tremendous amount of physicality. He’ll be an impact player for the Tar Heels in year one.

Love is the Tar Heels’ heir apparent at point guard once Cole Anthony leaves for this summer’s NBA Draft. A 6-foot-3, 170-pound lead guard, Love is a gifted scorer and facilitator who can play either position in the back court. He’s still a score-first point guard, but he’s rounding into a solid passer that can set his teammates up in good position to get buckets. He’s capable of playing in the half court, or leading the Tar Heels’ fast-paced, run-and-gun offense. But if it’s scoring that North Carolina fans want to see from their point guard, Love should be a Carolina favorite in no time. The St. Louis native is ranked No. 18 overall in the class of 2020, second among point guards and first in the state of Missouri.

Davis, a 6-foot, 165-pound combo guard out of Archbishop Stepinac in White Plains, New York, is a good ball handler, and can drive the lane with speed and efficiency. He’s good at creating his own offense, and setting up teammates to get theirs. He’s got quickness in the open court, and on the fast break, and can hit shots from all over the court. He’s also a good rebounder for his size. He’s good at getting to the free throw line with regularity, and converts a high percentage of his shots there. Davis is ranked No. 53 in the 247Sports Composite for 2020. He’s the eighth-ranked player at his position, and No. 1 in the state of New York.

The game is set to take place on Friday, March 27 at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena. The girl’s game will tip-off at 6:00 p.m. CST, with the boys game to follow at 8:00 p.m. Former players to participate in the game include Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Jordan Brand Classic, the Tar Heels’ 2020 recruiting class, and everything UNC basketball.