UNC Basketball: Tar Heels ‘in good shape’ but not favorites for 5-star guard

UNC basketball program ‘in good shape’ for 5-star prospect, but not the favorite

We’ve talked at length in recent months about the Tar Heels’ pursuit of an elite guard in the class of 2021. Roy Williams and his staff can’t assume that incoming freshman floor general Caleb Love will remain on campus for more than a year, so the importance of a potential replacement is paramount to the team’s success moving forward.

In his first assignment with 247Sports since leaving his previous post at Rivals, national recruiting analyst Eric Bossi touched on the Hunter Sallis recruitment, and made his Crystal Ball prediction for the consensus top-10 prospect.

"“Ranked No. 6 overall nationally by 247Sports, five-star combo guard Hunter Sallis of Omaha (Neb.) Millard North is one of the most heavily sought-after players in the country,” Bossi writes. “His top 12 of Alabama, Auburn, Creighton, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon and UCLA is loaded with some of college basketball’s most recognized programs.A 6-foot-5 playmaker who excels off the dribble, Sallis probably has a few steps to take with his recruitment before announcing a decision. Most likely, there will be at least one more cut to his list before making a decision and of the teams involved, I would put Creighton, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina in the best position to make the next round.That being said, I’m ready to make my first Crystal Ball pick as a member of the 247Sports team and I’m going with Kentucky for Sallis. Would I call it a lock? No. But, based on what I’ve heard I feel that as of today John Calipari and the Wildcats are the most likely to land a commitment from Sallis.”"

The good news for Williams, the Tar Heels and their fans, as Bossi notes, is that his confidence in the pick is not that high. Considering the current trajectory of Sallis’ recruitment, and everything that we’ve heard over the last few months, I’d say it’s safe to assume that the Tar Heels will make his next round of cuts. That’s further evidenced by Bossi’s notion that the Tar Heels are one of the strongest contenders for Sallis, along with Creighton, Iowa State, Kansas and Kentucky.

We aren’t yet aware of when Sallis will release a condensed list, or a final list, but I would put pretty good odds on North Carolina making the cut. I also feel pretty good about Creighton, Kansas and Kentucky joining the Tar Heels on said list, and look for all four teams to be involved on decision day.

Sallis, a 6-foot-5, 175-pound combo guard with nice ball-handling skills and an excellent crossover. He’s got a quick first step, and gets to the goal with speed and efficiency. He drives the lane well in traffic and through contact, and can finish above the rim with ease. He can score at all three levels, rebounds exceptionally well for his position and plays pesky, tenacious defense. He’s a good distributor and plays well without the ball in his hands, making him a perfect fit to play either guard position at the college level.

Sallis is ranked No. 7 in the 2021 class according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s second among players at his position, and No. 1 in the state of Nebraska.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Hunter Sallis recruitment, and everything UNC basketball.