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UNC Basketball: Top analyst likes Tar Heels’ chances for Hunter Sallis

By Blake Cockrum

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on as they play against the Iona Gaels during the first half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on as they play against the Iona Gaels during the first half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Top recruiting analyst for 247Sports says there’s a good chance that Hunter Sallis ends up with the UNC basketball program

With Kennedy Chandler off the table, and Skyy Clark looking more and more like a future Kentucky Wildcat, Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels have doubled-down on their recruitment of 5-star combo guard Hunter Sallis.

Sure, the Tar Heels still have 4-star guard D’Marco Dunn in their sights, and appear to have a pretty good shot at getting his commitment over the likes of Louisville and Vanderbilt, among others. Sallis, though, is an elite, next-level guard that could immediately come in and replace Caleb Love, a class of 2020 UNC commit with the skill and athleticism to make the jump to professional basketball after just one season of college hoops. Sallis is also better suited for the point guard position than Dunn, who fits better into the mold of a true shooting guard.

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The good news for Williams and company is that Sallis named the Tar Heels among a list of 12 finalists last week, and they’re considered one of the favorites in his recruitment at this point. 247Sports Director of Basketball Scouting Jerry Meyer said as much in a recent piece, noting that there is still time left in Sallis’ recruitment, but that North Carolina may be the leader of the pack.

"“There seems to be a good chance that Hunter Sallis does end up at UNC,” Meyer writes. “I think we have some time before a decision, and there are quite a few schools in hot pursuit of the athletic and talented five-star guard.North Carolina has put a lot of work into recruiting Sallis, and I like their positioning. Hometown Creighton is a factor. Kentucky recently offered. Kansas and Oregon also are major players in his recruitment. I’m not ready to place a Crystal Ball prediction, but I do lean to North Carolina at the moment.”"

Along with the Tar Heels, the 6-foot-4, 165-pound Sallis is still considering Alabama, Auburn, Creighton, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Oregon and UCLA. My assumption is that he will cut his list down at least one more time prior to making a decision, which I anticipate coming some time late this year or early next year.

A standout senior at Millard North High School in Omaha, Nebraska, Sallis is quick, shifty, athletic and cerebral. He’s got nice ball-handling skills, and a terrific crossover. He’s got a quick first step, and gets to the goal with speed and efficiency. He’s good at driving the lane in traffic and through contact, and can finish above the rim with ease. He scores the basketball at all three levels, rebounds exceptionally well for his position and plays pesky, tenacious defense.

He’s risen 34 spots in the 247Sports Composite since the start of the year, and is now ranked No. 8 overall. He’s second among players at his position, and No. 1 in the state of Nebraska.

Next. Is UNC the team to beat for D'Marco Dunn?. dark

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