UNC Basketball: Hubert Davis, Tar Heels tracking rising seven-footer

Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program checked in on a rising seven-footer in the class of 2022 on Friday.

The Tar Heels’ 2022 recruiting class, which is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, features a pair of 6-foot-9-inch centers and a rising 4-star point guard in Menomonee Falls’ Seth Trimble. It’s the composition of their three-man class that makes it all the more interesting that Davis took time to watch seven-foot center Vince Iwuchukwu at the Peach Jam on Friday.

But according to 247Sports National Basketball Director Eric Bossi, the first-year UNC head coach did just that. As Bossi tells it, Davis made a “brief stop” by the rising big man’s court to watch him play, and was joined by coaches from Baylor, Texas and UCLA.

Those are just three of the programs pushing hard for a commitment from Iwuchukwu, as are Purdue, TCU, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Arkansas, Florida State and Kentucky have also been involved with Iwuchukwu, a consensus top-10 player in the state of Florida. It’s the Baylor Bears, however, that appear to have a stranglehold on Iwuchukwu’s recruitment, with 100 percent of predictions from analysts and insiders with 247Sports and Rivals picking Waco as his eventual landing spot.

It’s interesting that Davis would be checking in on Iwuchukwu when two centers from the 2022 class have already committed to North Carolina. It’s especially intriguing when one of said centers is Jalen Washington — a versatile 5-star prospect with tons of upside. Center definitely isn’t a position of need for the Tar Heels at this point, and you have to wonder if another big man that’s approaching 5-star status would even consider joining an already crowded front court.

It is worth noting, however, that Iwuchukwu, a seven-foot, 220-pound senior at Montverde Academy, is a different type of player than the two bigs in UNC’s 2022 recruiting class. Unlike Washington and 3-star Will Shaver, Iwuchukwu is a much less refined and versatile player. Although he does have a lot of upside, his current game is more predicated on size and length than it is skill and savvy. His impact for now — which is still substantial — is felt most right around the rim with short shots, dunks and rebounding. He does play with a lot of energy and passion, though, and will continue to develop with enough hard work in the weight room and practice on the hardwood.

Iwuchukwu is the No. 24 prospect in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s fifth among centers in the class, and No. 6 in the state of Florida. He’s ranked similarly in the Rivals150 at 29th overall, and seventh at his position.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for any developments in the Vince Iwuchukwu recruitment, as well as everything UNC basketball.