UNC Basketball: Tar Heels’ 2022 recruiting class could look a lot like this

What are the Tar Heels’ chances of earning commitments from their list of 2022 prospects?

Chris Livingston

Contenders – Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Memphis, North Carolina, Ohio State, Tennessee State
Most likely – Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis
UNC’s chances – Low

Chris Livingston is the type of highly-touted wing prospect that the Tar Heels have missed out on in recent years. Will Hubert Davis be able to turn the tide, or will North Carolina miss out on yet another elite wing? If I had to choose between UNC and the field, I’d take the field.

Dereck Lively II

Contenders – Duke, Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Penn State, USC
Most likely – Kentucky
UNC’s chances – Low

I’m not saying that Lively to North Carolina was anywhere near a done deal, but the addition of Jalen Washington to the Tar Heels’ 2022 recruiting class greatly reduced the chances of it. The talented big man out of Westtown, Pennsylvania feels like a future Wildcat to me.

Mark Mitchell

Contenders – Arkansas, Duke, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, UCLA
Most likely – Duke, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, UCLA
UNC’s chances – Low

I’m not certain Mark Mitchell ever makes it out of the Midwest, and if he does, it likely won’t be to the University of North Carolina. If Mitchell comes to the state of North Carolina, Duke seems like a more likely choice for the 5-star wing.

Jaden Bradley

Contenders – Arizona, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee
Most likely – Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee
UNC’s chances – Medium

It’s difficult to say where Jaden Bradley will end up next fall, but I think the Tar Heels have a shot. So do a handful of other programs, though, and it won’t be easy battling the likes of Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Zion Cruz

Contenders – Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, Creighton, Florida State, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio State, Oregon, Syracuse
Most likely – Auburn
UNC’s chances – Low to medium

It’s still fairly early in the Zion Cruz recruitment, and it feels like just about anything could happen. Right now, it’s the Auburn Tigers who appear to have the edge, but others certainly have the opportunity to make up some ground.

Nick Smith

Contenders – Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Florida, Georgetown, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Oral Roberts, Texas
Most likely – Kentucky
UNC’s chances – Low

John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats appear to be picking up a lot of steam in the Nick Smith recruitment. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him in Lexington next year.

Kyle Filipowski

Contenders – Creighton, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Xavier
Most likely – Duke
UNC’s chances – Slim to none

Kyle Filipowski looks like a Duke player if I’ve ever seen one. UNC fans are likely to see him play in the Smith Center next fall, but it won’t be for the team in light blue.

Cam Whitmore

Contenders – Florida, Georgetown, Illinois, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Penn State, Villanova
Most likely – Georgetown, Illinois, Louisville, Maryland, Notre Dame, North Carolina
UNC’s chances – High

I really like the Tar Heels’ chances at a Cam Whitmore commitment. It’s by no means a done deal, but they’ve got as good of a shot — and maybe slightly better — than any of the other programs on his list.

Isaac Traudt

Contenders – Creighton, Iowa, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin
Most likely – Undecided
UNC’s chances – Low

If I said I knew where Isaac Traudt was going to end up, I’d be lying. He’s got a ton of hungry contenders, and he simply hasn’t shown us much of his hand to this point. I do think with a pair of 6-foot-9-inch bigs already committed to the Tar Heels for next season, there’s a good chance he ends up elsewhere.

Tyler Nickel

Contenders – Butler, Iowa, LSU, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia Tech, West Virginia
Most likely – Undecided
UNC’s chances – Medium

There’s still so much we don’t know about Tyler Nickel’s recruitment, and at this point I wouldn’t be shocked to see him end up at any one of the school’s on his list. I like what Hubert Davis and his staff have done to this point, though, and give them as good of a chance as anyone.

De’Ante Green

Contenders – Florida State, North Carolina, NC State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Most likely – North Carolina
UNC’s chances – High

I’ve been saying De’Ante Green to UNC for months, and I’m not going to change my mind now. I think this rising in-state prospect ends up in a Carolina uniform before it’s all said and done.