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UNC Basketball Recruiting: Updates on class of 2020 and 2021 targets in early April

By Zack Pearson

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 11: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during their game against the Syracuse Orange in the second round of the 2020 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 11: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during their game against the Syracuse Orange in the second round of the 2020 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2020 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 19: Paolo Banchero #5 of O’Dea High School against Blanche Ely High School during the City of Palms Classic Day 2 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 19, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 19: Paolo Banchero #5 of O’Dea High School against Blanche Ely High School during the City of Palms Classic Day 2 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 19, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

The top targets in 2021 for the Tar Heels

With that focus shifting on 2021, it will be a little bit of a different recruiting cycle due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We don’t know what is going to happen with the high school and college basketball seasons but the big worry could be the Summer evaluation period.

Coaches typically use the Summer AAU tournaments to evaluate players and add to their recruiting boards. But if this shelter in place continues through the Summer, it’s possible that AAU Tournaments could be canceled. Coaches will have the ability to recruit still but it’s going to be different.

In the 2021 class, the Tar Heels have a total of seven offers out to prospects. Williams and his staff are interested in more recruits but as of now these are the offers that are out: (rankings are per 247 Sports Composite)

  • No. 2 five-star Chet Holmgren (Center)
  • No. 3 five-star Patrick Baldwin (Small Forward)
  • No. 4 five-star Paolo Banchero (Power Forward)
  • No. 15 five-star Kennedy Chandler (Point guard)
  • No. 17 five-star Harrison Ingram (Small Forward)
  • No. 18 five-star Trevor Keels (Shooting Guard)
  • No. 57 four-star Dontrez Styles (Power Forward)

Looking at the list above, that’s some excellent talent with six of the seven offers being five-star recruits and three of those being Top 5 players. Among those Top 5 players, I’d say Holmgren is probably UNC’s best bet and that might be a bit of a stretch.

Right now it appears as if UNC’s top targets are Holmgren, Chandler, Ingram, and Styles. That’s my best guess and it doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in the others. Baldwin doesn’t seem likely and the more Banchero’s recruitment goes on, it feels like UNC is falling out of the race.

A mock class for me right now looks like:

Styles (PF), Ingram (SF), Chandler (PG). That’s a solid three-man class with the chance to land some other targets that come along the way.

Still, there is a long way to go in these recruitments and none of the prospects appear to be making their decision anytime soon. Let’s see if UNC can make up some ground.

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