UNC Basketball: Blue Bloods heavily pursuing five-star target

Kentucky head coach John Calipari works with his team against Vanderbilt during the first half at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021.Vandy Uk Mbb 021721 An 007
Kentucky head coach John Calipari works with his team against Vanderbilt during the first half at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021.Vandy Uk Mbb 021721 An 007

The pursuit for one UNC Basketball recruiting target is heating up here this Winter and it appears as if the Tar Heels have some ground to make up.

Five-starย Matas Buzelis is one of the best players in the 2023 recruiting class and has a total of 12 offers in his recruitment so far. Programs like UNC, Duke, Kansas, Illinois, UCLA, Florida State and Arizona among others have offered him so far and the pursuit for some continues to amp up.

Per Andrew Slater of Pro Insight, a pair of Blue Blood programs are moving in quick on the talented Buzelis and one of those programs arenโ€™t the Tar Heels. Slater reported that the recruit is hearing the most from Kentucky and Duke so far in his recruitment:

Slater also notes that the only two visits Buzelis has taken so far have been to Florida State and Wake Forest, meaning we canโ€™t count them out just yet either. Buzelis is set to travel to Kentucky in December, but the Wildcats have yet to offer the recruit.

Right now, things donโ€™t look great for UNCโ€™s chances. This isnโ€™t the first time in the past few weeks that both Kentucky and Duke have been mentioned for Buzelis and showing significant interest.

It appears as if UNC has backed off a little in this recruitment and are focusing on other targets in 2023 including five-star G.G. Jackson. Things can change however and targeting Buzelis might not be the worst idea.

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