UNC Basketball: 5-star point guard Jaden Bradley discusses recruitment

5-star point guard Jaden Bradley discusses his high-profile recruitment, and the upcoming visit that he has planned with the UNC basketball program.

The North Carolina Tar Heels have been courting 5-star point guard Jaden Bradley for quite some time in hopes of earning a commitment from one of the top back court prospects in the nation. And they’re hoping that all of their hard work pays off.

A 6-foot-3, 178-pound senior at IMG Academy, Bradley has been a target of the UNC basketball program for the better part of two years, and received an offer from former North Carolina head coach Roy Williams back in March of 2020. 16 months later and following an NCAA dead period that spanned nearly all of 2020, Bradley is set to begin taking official visits in order to whittle down his search for a home next fall.

To the delight of the Tar Heels and their fans, Bradley will begin his official visit to North Carolina on June 15. But reeling in the talented guard won’t be easy for any team, even one with a point guard-rich history like the Tar Heels.

With nearly 30 scholarship offers from some of the top basketball programs in the country, Bradley will essentially have his pick of the litter when it comes time to make a decision. His extensive offer sheet includes Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Kansas, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, NC State, Tennessee, Texas Tech, UCLA, Virginia Tech and UCLA, so to say that the competition for Bradley’s recruitment is stiff goes without saying.

The hype surrounding Bradley’s game is warranted, thanks, in part, to the fact that he’s a terrific lead guard with a versatile skill set that allows him to dribble, pass and score from all three levels. He’s good at running the fast break, driving the lane through traffic and scoring in transition. He’s a good rebounder for his size, and has terrific court vision. Despite being a capable scorer, the hallmark of Bradley’s game is his ability to manage and facilitate the offense. He has a chance to be an elite playmaker at the college level.

Bradley was at the CP3 Memorial Classic on Sunday where he spoke to TarHeelIllustrated’s Jacob Turner. He talked about his game, his recruitment and the relationship he has with North Carolina’s Hubert Davis.

"“He’s got some big shoes to fill, but I think he can definitely do it,” Bradley said of the first-year UNC head coach. “We’ve had conversations through text messages, phone calls, just trying to get to know me, and we’ll talk more once I get down there. I’m looking forward to it.”"

Bradley noted that he’s looking for a school with a family environment that has a scheme that fits his game in which he can thrive in. He also stated that proximity to home won’t play a part in his recruitment, and that he’s open to traveling anywhere in the country for the program that fits him best.

Bradley is the No. 9 prospect in the class of 2022 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the second-ranked point guard in the nation, and No. 4 overall in the state of Florida. Current Crystal Ball predictions for Bradley are unanimously in favor of the Kentucky Wildcats, but I still believe his commitment is up for grabs.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Jaden Bradley recruitment, as well as everything UNC basketball.