UNC Basketball: Tar Heels trailing trio of powerhouses for Trevor Keels?

Is the UNC basketball program trailing a trio of national powerhouses for class of 2021 shooting guard Trevor Keels?

It wasn’t long ago when Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels seemed to have a leg up on the competition in the recruitment of 5-star shooting guard Trevor Keels. Now, though, it appears as if the Tar Heels are facing an uphill battle to snag one of the nation’s best shooters and top perimeter players.

A rising senior in the class of 2021, Keels has nearly two-dozen scholarship offers from some of the country’s premier basketball programs. Among them are Duke, Florida, Louisville, Marquette, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Seton Hall, Villanova and Virginia. All of that, and he’s yet to compile a list of finalists or make any indication as to when he might come to a decision. And while some would argue that his recruitment is still wide open, Rivals recruiting analyst Corey Evans believes there are a trio of programs that have the edge on North Carolina and company.

For Evans, it’s Villanova and Virginia that have separated themselves from the pack. Both Jay Wright and Tony Bennett have been involved with Keels since his freshman season at Paul VI Catholic, and there’s very little space between the two at this point in Keels’ recruitment. If the rising senior’s recruitment were to end today, it’s Villanova or Virginia — winners of the last two NCAA Championships, respectively — that would benefit from his commitment.

And on the other hand, there’s Duke, who has ramped up its pursuit of Keels in recent weeks after missing on 5-star Michigan State commit, Max Christie. The Blue Devils’ system could mesh well with Keels’ style, and they’ve also got a pledge from his former teammate and friend, Jeremy Roach. Despite having not been involved in Keels’ recruitment half as long as the aforementioned schools, Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils have a chance.

North Carolina, however, has quite a bit of ground to make up in the eyes of Evans, who knows that the Tar Heels could have some holes to fill on their perimeter at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.

"“North Carolina will have some holes to fill along the perimeter with there being a fair chance Caleb Love goes the one-and-done route,” Evans writes. “UNC is involved with Kennedy Chandler, D’Marco Dunn, and Hunter Sallis, while it has continued its discussions with sophomore guard Skyy Clark, who could reclassify later in the year. However, there is a major shot-making need that Keels would be slated to fill and even though Kerwin Walton and Puff Johnson should help, another capable ball-handler would not hurt. Former school teammate Anthony Harris remains in Chapel Hill, but he will have to work a little overtime to help the Tar Heels make up ground with the three hovering ahead of them in the race for the five-star.”"

A 6-foot-5, 210-pound shooting guard from Fairfax, Virginia, Keels is an athletic player that can score from all three levels. He’s got great strength for a shooting guard, and length that should help him create mismatches on both ends of the court. He’s a solid rebounder for his position, and a capable defender.

Prior to the NCAA’s recruiting dead perior, Keels made official visits to Ohio State and Virginia, and took unofficial trips to Georgetown and Villanova. It stands to reason that he’d like to make more campus visits prior to making a college decision, but neither he nor anyone else have any idea when the current lull in recruiting will come to an end. Like so many others, Keels may have to take advantage of text messages, phone calls and virtual visits in order to come to a final decision. Then again, he doesn’t particularly appear to be in any kind of rush to make a decision.

Keels is currently ranked No. 16 in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s second among shooting guards in the class, and No. 1 in the state of Virginia.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Trevor Keels, as well as everything UNC basketball.