UNC Basketball: Tar Heels putting full court press on forward?

CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 08: Assistant coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies during play at the Dean Smith Center on November 8, 2013 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 84-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 08: Assistant coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies during play at the Dean Smith Center on November 8, 2013 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 84-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Hubert Davis and the UNC Basketball program got their first commitment in the 2022 class just two weeks back when three-star center Will Shaver committed following his visit to Chapel Hill. 

With recruiting opening up more this Summer with no more restrictions, things are starting to heat up for recruits and prospects. Among them is four-star forward Tyler Nickel. The Virginia native is a top 100 recruit in the 2022 class and has several teams in pursuit of him.

Among them are the Tar Heels who have yet to offer Nickel but have reached out multiple times over the year including recently with Davis in charge. Nickel does have a total of 17 offers in his recruitment and judging by how UNC is in pursuit, the Tar Heels are likely to offer as well.

In a recent interview with Jason Jordan of USA Today, the recruit talked about his game and in the article, Jordan mentions UNC as a team that has put the full-court press on:

"Nickel is pumping in 17 points a game with Team Loaded, who will compete on the grueling adidas Circuit in July.That production has got N.C. State, North Carolina, Iowa, West Virginia, LSU and Virginia Tech applying the full-court recruitment press.Still, as impressive as the list is, Nickel wants even more options.“I want to go to the school that’s gonna make me the best pro, so I want as many offers as I can get,” Nickel said. “I want to play in the NBA, and I want to always be in a situation with that goal in mind.”"

With the increased interest, Nickel is taking his time with things and will be back on the Summer circuit playing for Team Loaded this year. That should get him more exposure to coaches who are out evaluating and Nickel’s stock could rise.

It’s hard imagining UNC showing this much interest and not offering the talented forward at some point this Summer.

Nickel is ranked No. 67 overall, the No. 17 small forward and No. 2 player in the state of Virginia per the 247 Sports recruiting rankings. 

Next. Tar Heels make cut for five-star forward. dark

For more on Nickel and other UNC Basketball recruiting targets, please check back with Keeping It Heel.