Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Three wings the Tar Heels should target in 2022

By Blake Cockrum

Feb 29, 2020; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams encourages his team against the Syracuse Orange in the second half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 29, 2020; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams encourages his team against the Syracuse Orange in the second half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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UNC Basketball
IMG Academy sophomore and New Freedom, PA native Jarace Walker (25) played in front of family and friends tonight at UMBC on Saturday February 8, 2020. IMG lost to Baltimore Poly Tech 62-60.Jarace Walker IMG Academy /

Jarace Walker
6’6”, 220 lbs
IMG Academy
Bradenton, FL
#9 overall, #3 SF

Jarace Walker would be a great fit for North Carolina at the wing position, and Roy Williams has had some recent success recruiting at his high school, IMG Academy. Current UNC center Armando Bacot graduated from there, and moved right into a starting role with the Tar Heels the same year.

By the time Walker steps onto a college campus a couple of years from now, he could be further along in his progression than Bacot was. That would give him a good chance of immediately stepping into a starting role — or at least getting starter’s minutes — as a freshman at North Carolina. That would obviously be dependent on the make-up of the Tar Heels’ roster at the time, and how far along players like Puff Johnson and Dontrez Styles are in their respective careers.

Walker’s upside is undeniable, and his ceiling may be as high as any player in the 2022 class. At 6-feet-8-inches tall and 225 pounds, he’s got one of the most physically imposing and advanced physiques among high school juniors. On top of that, he’s a terrific slasher, good ball-handler and attacks the basket well off the dribble. He’s an outstanding passer, particularly for his position, which is aided by his excellent court vision and awareness. Walker uses his size and strength to his advantage, bullying his way into the paint for a layup or a powerful dunk. And he should develop into a really good defender at the college level.

He’s already holding nearly 20 scholarship offers, including ones from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Syracuse and Virginia Tech. I wouldn’t be shocked to see his list of potential schools double by the time he makes a decision, nor would I be surprised to see the Tar Heels extend an offer in the near future. They’ve already had conversations with him, and there appears to be a mutual interest between the two parties. We’ll find out in the coming months if the Tar Heels take the next step, and officially offer Walker.

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