UNC Basketball: Tar Heels still in the running for Skyy Clark, analyst says

National recruiting analyst Corey Evans says UNC basketball is still in the running for Skyy Clark, despite speculation that the Kentucky Wildcats hold a substantial lead over the Tar Heels and eight other finalists.

Skyy Clark’s recruitment continues to heat up as we move closer to the start of his junior season at Brentwood Academy. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound prospect ranks among the best back court players in the class of 2022, and he’s garnered the interest of just about every prolific basketball program in the nation over the past year.

The 5-star combo guard had better than two-dozen scholarship offers when he announced a list of eight finalists in early August. In doing so, he eliminated schools such as Arizona, Auburn, Florida State, Gonzaga, Ohio State and Tennessee, among others. At that point, it was Kentucky, Memphis, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee State, UCLA and USC that we thought he’d be moving forward with, but on Monday night he added DePaul and Kansas to his final list.

For some time now, there’s been widespread speculation that the Kentucky Wildcats were the prohibitive favorite in Clark’s recruitment. And while John Calipari’s program may very well be the frontrunner for Clark’s commitment — with a consensus of college basketball insiders and recruiting analysts projecting Kentucky as his eventual landing spot — national recruiting analyst Corey Evans claims that North Carolina is still in the running, and warns against underestimating the Tar Heels’ chances.

"“Skyy Clark has not revealed yet when he is going to decide,” Evans writes. “For now, Kentucky is the favorite and it could take him in 2021 or 2022, but if Hunter Sallis were to commit to the Wildcats, too, chances are much greater that we see Clark in Lexington not until the fall of 2022.Do not underestimate the chances North Carolina has with Clark, though. The Tar Heels are among the favorites for both Clark and Sallis. If Sallis picks UK and Clark wants to play in college next fall, his talents could be on display in Chapel Hill.For now, the Wildcats are in a favorable spot with both Hopkins and Clark as we get closer to both their commitments.”"

So, while the Wildcats may still be the favorite in Clark’s recruitment, the Tar Heels still appear to have a shot. And you can bet that UNC head coach Roy Williams will continue to push hard for Clark, particularly with the uncertainty revolving around supremely talented incoming freshman guard Caleb Love, who joins the Tar Heels’ roster this fall, but has the kind of skill and athleticism that could propel him to the NBA as soon as next year.

The versatile Clark is a good ball handler, distributor and shooter. He keeps defenses honest with his ability to knock down shots from long-range, or dish to an open teammate for an easy score. He’s capable of beating his defender off the dribble, and getting inside the arc for a mid-range bucket. He’ll also drive the lane through traffic, and finish with a bucket inside the paint. He possesses tremendous basketball I.Q., court vision and athleticism. Clark also has good size for his position that helps him play strong, tenacious defense.

Clark is currently ranked 15th in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite for 2022. He’s third among combo guards in the class, and the No. 2 prospect from the state of Tennessee.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest news and updates on the Skyy Clark recruitment, and everything UNC basketball.