UNC Basketball: Tar Heels on the outs with 5-star power forward?

Roy Williams, UNC basketball program appear to be on the outside looking in for 5-star power forward Jabari Smith.

Roy Williams and the North Carolina basketball program were relatively late getting involved in the recruitment of 5-star power forward Jabari Smith. And by all accounts, it looks like their recent attempts may be too little, too late.

The consensus top-5 prospect from the class of 2021 didn’t receive a scholarship offer the Tar Heels until mid-July. By that point, Smith had long been involved with a number of other big-name programs, including Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee, a quartet of SEC programs that appear to have a leg up on the 10 or so other schools that are in hot pursuit.

In a recent piece by Rivals’ Dan McDonald, the national recruiting analyst talks about the programs involved in Smith’s recruitment, and where he sees the elite prospect ending up in the fall of 2021.

"“Jabari Smith’s recruitment has been pretty steady for the past several months, with the exception of North Carolina coming into the mix with a scholarship offer,” McDonald writes. “Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee have been the most consistent in their pursuit of the five-star forward out of the Peach State. On Wednesday afternoon, I put in my Rivals FutureCast pick for Georgia to land Smith.Over the past month or so, I’ve started to hear more and more about the Bulldogs making a big impression on the No. 4 prospect in the 2021 class. He’s built a really strong relationship with Tom Crean, and the idea of staying close to home could play in Georgia’s favor. I still think there is time for things to change, especially with elite recruiters like Will Wade, Bruce Pearl and Rick Barnes involved, but I like the Bulldogs to win this one.”"

Once a tall, lanky prospect, Smith’s body has continued to fill out over the past couple of years. He now adds formidable height, weigh and length to an already budding post game that includes an effective jump hook. Despite his ability to play on the low blocks, though, Smith is more of a face-up power forward with shooting range out to the three-point line. His athleticism is improving and he’s a decent passer for his position. He’s also a good rebounder, and has the ability to be a game-changer on the defensive end.

Smith is the No. 4 prospect in the class of 2021 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s second among power forwards in the class, and No. 1 in the state of Georgia.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Jabari Smith recruitment, as well as everything UNC basketball.