North Carolina Tar Heels: Falling in the rankings, recruiting news & more

Dec 8, 2022; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Cardinal Hayes Cardinals guard Ian Jackson (11) against the Duncanville High School Panthers during the HoopHall West basketball tournament at Chaparral High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2022; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Cardinal Hayes Cardinals guard Ian Jackson (11) against the Duncanville High School Panthers during the HoopHall West basketball tournament at Chaparral High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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In today’s North Carolina Tar Heels update, we discuss the basketball program’s recent fall in the rankings, some recruiting news & more. 

If you ask any North Carolina Tar Heels fans, they’ll tell you that the last couple of weeks haven’t been very good in regards to how their favorite teams are playing.

However, the UNC basketball program continues to crush it on the recruiting trail, as Class of 2024 five-star Elliot Cadeau and four-star James Brown have committed to the program over the last week.

Could another star from this recruiting class be next in line to make his way to Chapel Hill? An upcoming visit to campus may help persuade him that way.

A two-team race for Ian Jackson?

Ian Jackson, the No. 2 ranked player in the Class of 2024 (according to 247Sports Composite), is set to make his official visit to North Carolina on Friday.

The Bronx, New York native has been on the record saying that he plans on making a final decision soon, and according to one reporter, it seems to be down to two blue blood programs.

Cameron Drummond of Kentucky.com discussed this in further detail, as he mentioned that the Wildcats are still considered the “favorites” at this point. However, he does note that the Tar Heels are very much in the mix, as the two programs have been the favorite in this recruiting battle for quite some time.

With Jackson set to visit Chapel Hill this week, the official stop to North Carolina may help alter that.

There’s also talk that he could reclassify. Kentucky’s already-loaded Class of 2023 could influence him to do so, but the Tar Heels top-ranked Class of 2024 could entice him otherwise.

Either way, North Carolina would welcome him with open arms. It’s just a matter of if they can convince him that Chapel Hill is the right place for him.

It’s Game Day for the UNC Basketball Program

After a very disappointing loss to Pittsburgh to end 2022, Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program will look to bounce back in a home contest against Wake Forest.

If the Tar Heels need any motivation, they can refer to the last meeting between these two squads, where the Deacon Demons absolutely dominated North Carolina.

While you’re watching, keep an eye on junior guard RJ Davis, who is just five points away from joining the 1,000-point scorers club.

Other North Carolina Tar Heels News

The University of North Carolina announced some sad news, as former UNC Interim and Acting Chancellor Bill McCoy passed away

A full press release on his passing can be viewed here.

Additional Thoughts

Although this is not North Carolina Tar Heels related, we’d like to take a moment to send our best wishes to Damar Hamlin, his family, and the entire Buffalo Bills organization.

It was a very scary scene during the Bills’ Monday Night Football contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, as we truly hope that Hamlin is able to battle through this and work his way back to good health.