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

Jalen Washington

Just two weeks after receiving a pledge from Seth Trimble, Hubert Davis earned his first commitment from a 5-star recruit. Through a video posted to his personal Twitter account, consensus top-25 prospect Jalen Washington named North Carolina as his college destination in the fall of 2022. He picked the Tar Heels over Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Michigan State, among others.

Washington, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound center from Gary, Indiana, is one of the top front court prospects in the nation. He’s ranked 21st overall in the 247Sports Composite, and fourth among players at his position. He’s ranked similarly in the latest Rivals150 at No. 26 overall, and fifth at the center position. In both cases, he’s the top-rated prospect from the state of Indiana.

The rising senior out of West Side High School is a beautiful combination of size, strength, skill and athleticism. He’s one of the most versatile high school players in the country, and he should be a true game-changer at the college level. He can dribble, drive, distribute and shoot the ball with efficiency. He’s capable of playing down low, or facing up to hit shots out to the three point line. Washington is also an excellent rebounder, and will affect the game’s final score with his propensity for playing disruptive defense.

Washington will be an impact player for the Tar Heels from day one, regardless of whether or not he makes the starting lineup or comes off the bench. He’ll certainly have an opportunity to earn a spot in UNC’s starting five, though, if we are correct in assuming that current junior big man Armando Bacot leaves college for the NBA Draft in 2022.