UNC Basketball: 4-star prospect showing his hand prior to commitment?

Is a highly-touted 4-star prospect and UNC basketball target showing his hand prior to his much-anticipated commitment?

As Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels continue to pursue a commitment from 4-star center Dereck Lively II, the favorites in his recruitment are becoming more clear in the eyes of 247Sports’ recruiting expert Eric Bossi.

In a recent piece highlighting 2022 prospects to keep an eye on, Bossi states that Lively’s recruitment is looking more and more like a blue blood affair, but that there is one other program to keep an eye on. And that program, Penn State, has an advantage that neither Duke, Kentucky nor North Carolina — the presumed favorites for Lively at this point — can bank on.

"“One of the biggest movers in the recent update to 247Sports 2022 rankings, Dereck Lively is leading a big-time recruitment and the seven-footer will team up with Jalen Duren on Team Final. Lively has looked to be tracking towards a blue blood commitment, but it is important to note that his mother not only played for but currently works for Penn State. In addition to Penn State, Lively also saw Duke, Kentucky and Carolina during June and has said he’s like to do more visits in the fall. Don’t want to totally rule out the chances of FSU, Michigan and USC but how much time their coaches spend watching in comparison to those of the programs he’s already visited could reveal a lot.”"

Although the Nittany Lions have a distinct advantage over their competition as it relates to Lively’s mother and her connection to the school, Bossi still feels like the three storied blue bloods are leading the way. That not only pertains to Penn State, but also to Florida State, Michigan and USC, who are included in Lively’s list of seven finalists, but trail in his recruitment as time winds down leading up to his commitment.

Lively, a native of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania and a standout at Westtown School, is one of the biggest and most fundamentally sound front court prospects in the nation. A 7-foot-2-inch, 220-pound center, Lively has the ability step out and make shots on offense, but also be a true rim protector on defense. He also utilizes his tremendous athleticism to dunk, rebound and get into passing lanes, and projects as a game-changing stretch-five for whatever program he commits to this summer.

The rising center is currently ranked seventh in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s second among players at his position, and No. 1 in the state of Pennsylvania.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Dereck Lively recruitment as he gets closer to his college decision, as well as everything on the UNC basketball program.