UNC Basketball: 2022 center Dereck Lively talks Hubert Davis, Tar Heels
Class of 2022 center Dereck Lively II talks about his ongoing recruitment, the Tar Heels and his relationship with first-year UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis.
Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels are all-in on Dereck Lively II, a rising top-50 prospect in the class of 2022 that’s getting attention from a number of college basketball’s top programs.
A 7-foot-1, 220-pound center that’s just barely outside of 5-star status in the 247Sports Composite, Lively has scholarship offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgetown, LSU, Memphis, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, UCLA and Xavier, but it’s the ones from Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina that appear to be taking the forefront in his recruitment at the moment. The rising big man already has campus visits scheduled for each of the three blue bloods, and many believe that his commitment will ultimately end up going to a member of that trio.
Lively recently talked to Stockrisers’ Jake Weingarten about his relationship with Hubert Davis, and how the first-year head coach got in on the ground floor of his recruitment.
"“After hearing about coach Roy Williams leaving,” Lively said, “Coach Hubert was the first person to recruit me out of North Carolina so we already have been in communications for a while and building trust and getting to know the staff.”"
Lively, one of the fastest-rising recruits in the class of 2022, has excellent height and wing span, and can spread the floor on offense with his ability to knock down shots from long range. He’s a terrific rebounder and rim protector, and runs the floor well. He’s already a matchup problem for defenses, but adding some weight to his wiry frame would further his advantage at the college level.
Lively is ranked 35th in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s fourth among centers in the class, and No. 1 in the state of Pennsylvania. He’s up to 14th in the Rivals150, and second at his position.
Next. 5-star UNC target setting official visits. dark
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