UNC Basketball: In-state 2021 recruit won’t be committing to Tar Heels

Former Louisville commit and in-state 2021 power forward Eric Van Der Heijden recently reopened his recruitment, but he won’t be joining the UNC basketball program next season.

Even before the news of Walker Kessler’s departure from the North Carolina basketball program broke on Monday morning, UNC fans were speculating if former 2021 Louisville commit and highly-touted in-state prospect Eric Van Der Heijden would consider the Tar Heels upon reopening his recruitment on Saturday.

But the window for snagging the three-star North Carolina native closed quickly, as Ven Der Heijden announced his commitment to the Ole Miss Rebels on Monday afternoon.

Van Der Heijden unofficially visited the North Carolina campus in January of 2020 to watch the Tar Heels take on the Miami Hurricanes at the Dean Smith Center. And although the Tar Heels never extended a scholarship offer to the 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward, there was at least some interest on the part of the North Carolina coaching staff. UNC assistant coach Hubert Davis took a trip to Raleigh to watch Van Der Heijden play prior to his trip to Chapel Hill.

Why it never resulted in an offer is unknown, but the lack of an offer could be why Van Der Heijden didn’t consider the Tar Heels this time around. Or it could have been the excess of front court personnel that are currently on the UNC roster — a number of which could be gone after what many fear is the start of a mass exodus within the UNC basketball program.

There’s little doubt at this point that the Tar Heels will be looking for players to fill roster spots for the 2021-22 season, as they’re already down at least one scholarship player, with more likely on the way. Roy Williams and his staff should be among the most active participants on the NCAA transfer market this offseason.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for more on that, and everything on the UNC basketball program.