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UNC Basketball recruiting: Tar Heels need to prioritize this 2022 recruit

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 02: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts following a play during the first half of their game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Dean Smith Center on January 02, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 02: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts following a play during the first half of their game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Dean Smith Center on January 02, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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The 2022 cycle is starting to heat up for UNC Basketball recruiting and they should prioritize this shooting guard

The UNC Basketball program has started to turn their attention to the 2022 recruiting class as it’s very likely they will finish 2021 with just two recruits signed.

That’s not terrible news as D’Marco Dunn and Dontrez Styles are both four-star recruits that have started to elevate their game lately. But now the focus is on 2022 where the Tar Heels don’t have a recruit signed but have some top targets.

Of the offers out right now, there’s really no telling who the Tar Heels are the favorites for at this stage. But one recruit that has an offer and is seeing significant interest is making a statement in his junior year and the Tar Heels need to prioritize him.

Four-star shooting guard Nick Smith Jr. has been playing very well so far in his junior season at Sylvan Hills High School in Arkansas. With his hot play, Smith should start climbing the rankings and demand the attention of big programs like UNC.

The Tar Heels are one of 18 offers for Smith but in late 2020 he narrowed it down to 10 finalists, providing an update on his recruitment. UNC will have to battle Kansas, Baylor, Texas Tech and Arkansas among others in this recruitment but Williams and his staff would be wise to start prioritizing him.

Smith could be the recruit the Tar Heels must land in the 2022 class as he could turn into a legit knock-down shooter at the college level. Something the Tar Heels are currently lacking and it’s showing this season so far.

The 6-foot-4, 170-pound Smith is ranked No. 29 overall, No. 2 at the shooting guard spot and No. 1 player in the state of Arkansas per the 247 Sports recruiting rankings.  If he keeps up his hot play this season and next, he could see his ranking improve as well.

Next. What UNC's 2022 class could look like. dark

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