Keeping It Heel
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NBA Draft: One Tar Heels player ranked in ESPN’s Top 100

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 12: Day'Ron Sharpe #11 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles the ball during a game against the North Carolina Central Eagles on December 12, 2020 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 67-73. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 12: Day'Ron Sharpe #11 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles the ball during a game against the North Carolina Central Eagles on December 12, 2020 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 67-73. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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As the season continues, the North Carolina Tar Heels have just one player ranked on the ESPN NBA Draft board that has been updated

The UNC Basketball program has had a bit of a struggle to start their 2020-21 season, sitting at 7-4 overall and 2-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. As conference play continues, the Tar Heels are hoping to build on their two-game win streak here going into a matchup with Clemson.

But even with the season just over 10 games old, we have already learned a lot about this team and it looks like scouts have as well.

Going into the season, the Tar Heels had two players that were inside the Top 25 in terms of 2021 NBA Draft prospects. Freshman guard Caleb Love led the way and was considered a lottery pick early on. His fellow class of 2020 recruit, Day’Ron Sharpe, was right behind him too.

Now, going into the second weekend in January, things have changed a bit. ESPN has released their latest big board of the Top 100 for the 2021 NBA Draft and the Tar Heels have just one player on that list.

Sharpe checks in at No. 16 on the list of best available prospects for the 2021 NBA Draft updated by ESPN, his highest ranking of the year so far. In terms of his position, Sharpe is the No. 2 center on the board behind only USC’s Evan Mobley who is No. 2 overall.

The former five-star recruit has really upped his game since arriving on campus in Chapel Hill and has been UNC’s best player this season. Sharpe is averaging 9.8 points, and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field. He’s earned a starting spot for his play and UNC may go as far as he takes them.

As for Love, he’s completely fallen out of the Top 100 after debuting in the Top 20 to start the year for UNC. He’s struggled early on averaging 9.5 points and 3.5 assists per game, while shooting 28 percent from the field. He’s been even worse from the three-point line, making just 17.8 percent of his attempts.

There’s still time for Love to turn things around but right now it feels like he would benefit from another year in Chapel Hill.

Next. Garrison Brooks named to Wooden Top 25. dark

For more on the UNC Basketball program, please make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel.

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