UNC Basketball: Could North Carolina’s top prospect end up at UNC?

Does the UNC basketball program have a shot at securing a commitment from the state’s top player?

Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels recently missed out on a commitment from 5-star class of 2020 prospect Ziaire Williams. Williams, a 6-foot-7, 175-pound small forward, was the Tar Heels’ top target at the position, and the latest in a series of elite wings to commit somewhere other than UNC.

For North Carolina fans, the Tar Heels’ inability to sign highly touted wing players might seem worse than what it really is. After all, they’re just two years removed from securing a commitment from Nassir Little, the No. 3-ranked recruit in the class of 2018, and second among players at his position. And even though it wasn’t on the traditional recruiting trail, the Tar Heels did get the final two seasons of graduate transfer Cameron Johnson’s college eligibility. The sharpshooting small forward had a terrific two-year stretch with the Tar Heels that culminated into a first team All-ACC selection, and a lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Admittedly, the Tar Heels have missed on a handful of wings over the past two recruiting cycles, but that’s not necessarily a knock on the UNC program or its coaching staff. Ziaire Williams, for example, simply wanted to stay close to home, and he did, despite having considerable interest in the Tar Heels. In the end, the opportunity to play in his own back yard was just too compelling for him to pass up. One could even argue that the mere inclusion of North Carolina in Williams’ list of finalists was a nod to how good of a job the Tar Heels did recruiting him over the past couple of years.

Meanwhile, all North Carolina did was sign the nation’s No. 3-ranked recruiting class, and a top-50 wing in Puff Johnson. He may not be ready for the spotlight in year one with the Tar Heels, but he has the opportunity to be a game-changer in the seasons to come. And given the way that they’ve prioritized the wing position in the class of 2021, it may not be that long of a wait before the Tar Heels bring in their recently elusive 5-star wing.

North Carolina has already cast a pretty wide net in next year’s class, extending scholarship offers to several of the nation’s top wing prospects. Among them are Patrick Baldwin, Jr. and Harrison Ingram, two of the nation’s best at their position. The Tar Heels have yet another offer out to Trevor Keels, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound shooting guard whose terrific size and athleticism could make him a versatile asset at the collegiate level.

Not far behind them in the rankings is 4-star small forward and Kinston, North Carolina native Dontrez Styles. A 6-foot-6, 205-pound small forward, Styles is ranked 57th in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite, and No. 1 in the state of North Carolina.

Styles is a versatile forward that can play multiple positions, hit shots out to the three-point line, play tenacious defense and use his athleticism to impact the game’s final score in a number of ways. He plays with a tremendous amount of energy and effort, and would fit well into the Tar Heels’ fast-paced, up-and-down style of play.

Hailing from the same hometown as former Tar Heels Jerry Stackhouse and Reggie Bullock — as well as former Duke forward Brandon Ingram — Styles knows the kind of pedigree that previous Kinston players have had. He’s trying to bring the same thing to whatever school he ends up at next year, and has even solicited advice from Bullock and Ingram about his recruitment, the college game and his eventual goal of playing in the NBA.

Styles is currently holding better than a dozen scholarship offers, including ones from Clemson, Georgetown, Maryland, NC State, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, VCU and Wake Forest. He’s also gotten early interest from Louisville and Xavier, among others. There’s no indication at this point where Styles will end up next year, but the Tar Heels have seemingly made the talented in-state product a top priority. Will it pay off in the end? And will their Tobacco Road rival get involved at some point? Only time will tell.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Tar Heels’ pursuit of Dontrez Styles, and everything UNC basketball.