UNC Basketball: Jarin Stevenson makes college decision

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches his team play against the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls during their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on October 28, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches his team play against the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls during their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on October 28, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The UNC basketball recruiting target announced his final decision after weeks of uncertainty and speculation regarding his future plans.

Leading up to his final decision, all speculation pointed towards one program having the upper edge in the Jarin Stevenson sweepstakes.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program.

Stevenson answered all questions regarding his future on Wednesday night, as the four-star forward committed to the University of Alabama. Additionally, Stevenson will be joining the Class of 2023 as he’ll join Nate Oats’ squad for the upcoming season.

Over the last few weeks, the momentum seemed to shift between the Crimson Tide and the Tar Heels. It seemed as if his landing spot depended on the class he elected to be a part of, as Alabama was considered the “favorite” in a potential reclassification while North Carolina, a school that Stevenson has family ties to, looked like the team to beat if he remained in the Class of 2024.

Well, we now know how that decision turned out.

Unfortunately, the Tar Heels didn’t land another talented player to its already strong 2024 recruiting class. Stevenson would have been a nice piece to compliment the three players already committed to the program.

However, given that he feels he’s college-ready now, Alabama was the best fit, given that the Crimson Tide seem willing (and able) to offer him the extended playing time that he expects to see.

In Chapel Hill, that probably wouldn’t have been the case.

Although the UNC basketball program would’ve loved to have had him commit to them, Hubert Davis and company will look elsewhere for talent to eventually bring to Chapel Hill.

Next. UNC Basketball extends offer to five-star Bryson Tiller. dark

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