UNC Basketball: Tar Heels’ 2021 recruiting class could look a lot like this

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DURHAM, NC – MARCH 03: (L-R) Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils talks to head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels before their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Patrick Baldwin, Jr.

The Tar Heels’ struggle to find elite wings over the past few recruiting cycles is well-documented. The last time they received a commitment from such a player was back in October of 2017 when 5-star small forward and top-5 overall prospect Nassir Little gave his pledge to Roy Williams and company.

Since that time, their efforts on the recruiting trail have remained consistent, while their returns have come up shy in every instance. Sure, they’ve gotten commitments from players such as Dontrez Styles in the class of 2021, and Puff Johnson the cycle before that, but each of their numerous attempts to land a top-25 wing have come up short.

They’re trying to change that with Patrick Baldwin, Jr., a 6-foot-9, 205-pound small forward that’s not only the highest-ranked player at his position, but also in the entire country. He’s a game-changer at the college level, and an obvious one-and-done prospect.

That’s thanks, in part, to his terrific length and athleticism that allows him to compete at either forward position, and helps him create mismatches on both ends of the court. He can score from all three levels, runs the floor extraordinarily well and isn’t afraid to drive the lane for big finishes above the rim. He’s also got good handles for a player of his size, and an outstanding basketball I.Q.

Baldwin was holding nearly two-dozen scholarship offers when he named his list of 10 finalists in May. Joining North Carolina in hot pursuit of Baldwin are Duke, Georgetown, Kentucky, Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

https://twitter.com/_pbaldwin23/status/1259273575439241218

Baldwin has not publicly stated that Duke is the current leader in his recruitment, but college basketball insiders and recruiting analysts alike almost unanimously believe that he’ll end up with the Blue Devils once the dust settles. That includes a consensus of experts from both 247Sports and Rivals, which typically spells bad news for the competition.

Baldwin is the No. 1 prospect in the nation per the 247Sports Composite. Rivals ranks him first in the nation, too, though he’s second in both the Top247 and the ESPN100.

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