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

Dereck Lively II

The Tar Heels extended a scholarship offer to Dereck Lively II in mid-February when former head coach Roy Williams was still at the helm. That offer was reaffirmed a few months later by first-year head coach Hubert Davis, as North Carolina worked tirelessly to reinforce a front court greatly depleted by offseason departures.

Lively, a 7-foot-1-inch, 220-pound center, is one of the fastest-rising recruits in the class of 2022. He’s the No. 7 prospect in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite, which is 32 spots north of where he was in late January. He’s the second-ranked center in the class, and No. 1 overall in the state of Pennsylvania. And there’s good reason for his recent jump to 5-star status.

A senior at Westtown School, Lively has height and wing span that simply can’t be taught. He’s also got surprising athleticism that you normally don’t see with a player of his size. He’s a skilled offensive player that can spread the floor thanks to his propensity for knocking down shots from long-range. He’s an excellent rebounder and rim protector, and runs the floor extraordinarily well. He’s already a matchup problem for defenses, but adding some weight to his wiry frame would further his already sizable advantage at the college level.

Considering his meteoric rise up the recruiting ranks, his skill set and the outstanding performances he’s been putting on in front of coaches and scouts in recent months, it’s no wonder why he received interest from many of college basketball’s top programs. He had over 20 offers when he named his list of seven finalists, one that includes Duke, Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Penn State and USC.

For some time, it appeared as if Lively’s recruitment was just the latest in a long and storied history of blue blood battles, with Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina ahead of the pack. But with the recent addition of 5-star center Jalen Washington — on top of the commitment they received from Will Shaver the month prior — I find it difficult to believe that Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels have as good of footing as they once did.