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UNC Basketball Recruiting: Tar Heels one of teams pushing the hardest for 2024 forward

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Head Coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels directs his team against the Loyola Greyhounds during the first half of their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on November 09, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Head Coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels directs his team against the Loyola Greyhounds during the first half of their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on November 09, 2021 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Basketball program is off to a 3-0 start under new head coach Hubert Davis and have even passed their first true road test. While the Tar Heels continue to push on this season with some tough non-conference games, they are also pushing for some top recruits to add to their future classes.

While Davis has already landed four commitments for 2022 and one for 2023, he’s starting to push for 2024 prospects. And among them is small forward Ryan Jones Jr. out of Gainesville.

The 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward who plays at The Rock School was recently on UNC’s campus for an unofficial visit. It’s VERY early in his recruitment still and Davis has just two total offers from Illinois and Ole Miss, but a few others are starting to pursue him heavily. Among them is UNC.

Zach Smart of Zag’s Blog wrote up a piece on Jones Jr. and talked to the recruit after his visit to Chapel Hill. In the piece, Jones Jr. revealed that there are two Blue Blood programs recruiting him the hardest right now:

"“North Carolina and Kentucky, those are the main two that are recruiting me hard right now,” said Jones, who has developed a dependable 3-point shot and poses a unique mismatch threat in Florida’s loaded SIAA conference.“I visited North Carolina two weeks ago. I talk to Orlando (Antigua) at Kentucky a lot. I’m also hearing from Cincinnati, Syracuse, Baylor and other programs in Texas,” added Jones, ranked No. 10 in the Class of 2024 by ESPN.com."

It’s certainly a good sign that UNC is pursuing him heavily, but they appear to have a tough competitor in Kentucky to battle with. Getting Jones Jr. on campus was huge for an unofficial and the next step will be to get him there for an official.

Jones Jr. doesn’t have a star designation just yet from 247Sports but he likely will be a five-star player when the initial rankings are released.

Next. This recruit will be next to commit to North Carolina. dark

For more on UNC Basketball recruiting, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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