UNC Basketball: Tar Heels’ odds at Cam Whitmore commitment?

What kind of odds does the UNC basketball program have at earning a commitment from rising 2022 prospect Cam Whitmore?

North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis has been busy over the course of his first five months on the job. The former assistant who was elevated to one of the best jobs in college basketball following the retirement of Hall-of-Famer Roy Williams has been as active as anyone on the recruiting trail in preparation for the 2021 season and beyond.

That includes reeling in a pair of talented transfer players in former five-star recruit and Marquette Golden Eagles power forward Dawson Garcia, as well as four-year Oklahoma starter and three-point specialist Brady Manek. Both should make their mark on the Tar Heels’ 2021-22 season, and both have an opportunity to start thanks to the numerous front court losses that North Carolina suffered in the offseason.

Davis and his new-look coaching staff also have a solid three-man recruiting class for the 2022 cycle, one that’s currently ranked third in the nation. Included in their early recruiting haul are five-star center Jalen Washington, rising four-star point guard Seth Trimble and three-star center Will Shaver. But Davis, similar to his predecessor, is still in search of a gifted wing scorer that’s seemingly eluded the program for the past several years.

That’s where Cam Whitmore comes in. The four-star small forward has had as good of a summer as just about any high school player in the nation, and his recruiting ranking has improved greatly as a result. The 6-foot-6-inch, 200-pound Whitmore was ranked just 122nd in the class of 2022 back in October of last year, but is now at No. 53 in the latest 247Sports Composite. And in all likelihood, he’ll be higher than that by the time he commits to his school of choice — evidenced by his recent jump to No. 28 in the Top247.

In a recent recruiting Q&A, 247Sports’ Eric Bossi discussed the chances of a Whitmore commitment to the Tar Heels, and who their toughest competition for the standout wing from Severn, Maryland could be.

"“. . . I don’t want to rule out local programs who have been recruiting him aggressively for a while in Georgetown and Maryland,” Bossi writes. “I also think that Illinois is a program to keep a close eye on when he visits them at the end of August. But, he’s scheduled to see North Carolina the weekend before that. Headed into that visit, I believe that Hubert Davis and the Heels are in pretty good shape. Also, Villanova is still out there and many feel that they are ultimately the team to beat.Can I guarantee Hubert Davis lands Whitmore? Nope. I can’t even predict that just yet. But, UNC appears to have a very legitimate chance in this one and that’s all you can really ask for as they look to add to Davis’ first class.”"

Although Bossi won’t come anywhere close to guaranteeing a UNC commitment from Whitmore — or even a prediction indicating its likelihood — the Tar Heels do appear to be in as good of position with the sensational wing as anyone. Maryland and Georgetown have certainly put in the work, as have Brad Underwood and the Illini. Villanova could also be a problem down the stretch. But Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels have made their case, and should be involved in his recruitment until the very end.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the Cam Whitmore recruitment, and everything regarding the UNC basketball program.