UNC Basketball: Latest buzz on top recruit is good news for Tar Heels

The latest buzz surrounding a top UNC Basketball target in the 2021 recruiting class may actually be good news for the Tar Heels

While it’s early signing day in college football, Roy Williams and his UNC Basketball program have already signed two recruits to their 2021 recruiting class. Now, Williams and the staff at North Carolina are hoping to add at least one more player and a five-star would be ideal.

The Tar Heels have three active offers out to recruits in the 2021 class as they look to build on a Top 3 class from a year ago. It won’t be easy however as they are up against some tough competition for each of Patrick Baldwin Jr., Chet Holmgren and Hunter Sallis.

But earlier in the week, the program may have received some good news regarding one of those players.

Rumors have been swirling that Baldwin Jr. is down to two teams and would likely pick between playing at Duke or for his father at UW-Milwaukee. However, the recruit himself told Sports Illustrated’s Jason Jordan that those rumors are false:

"“It’s weird because I just feel like people just straight make things up,” Baldwin said. “I’ve never said it’s a two-horse race, so, of course, that’s not true. I mean I could see where the speculations came from, I mean Duke offered me when I was a freshman, and my dad is obviously at Milwaukee. It’s definitely not a two-horse race, but they’re definitely strong candidates.”"

While Baldwin Jr. doesn’t mention the Tar Heels specifically, that still is good news for UNC fans to hear that it’s not a two-team race.

Baldwin Jr. is sidelined and will miss the rest of his senior season due to an ankle injury he recently suffered, freeing up more time for him to focus on recruiting. That’s what he plans to do according to the article.

While UNC doesn’t appear to be in the driver’s seat in this recruitment and all indications point to Duke as the favorite, the Tar Heels are still in this thing. Some even believe if there was one team to pull off a shocker, it could be UNC. 

Baldwin Jr. told Jordan that he does talk to coaches everyday and while there is no official timeline, February or March seems like an ideal time to announce.

For more on Baldwin Jr. and other UNC Basketball recruiting targets, please check back with Keeping It Heel.