The latest development all but removes UNC from contention for this top-20 recruit

A major official visit that was supposed to occur in Chapel Hill this upcoming weekend will no longer happen.

Tajh Ariza, a five-star forward who ranks as the No. 14 overall player in 247Sports' Class of 2026 rankings, was supposed to make his way to North Carolina to visit the UNC basketball program on September 12.

Well, plans have changed at the last minute.

Joe Tipton reported that Ariza has cancelled his official visit to North Carolina, a sign that the Tar Heels are officially out of the mix for his services. Along with the news about his cancelled visit to North Carolina, Tipton provided some other information regarding his current recruitment.

While it still feels like a west coast program (such as Oregon or USC) have the upper-hand, Ariza is still planning on visiting Kansas while mulling a potential visit to Kentucky as his recruitment starts to heat up.

Monday wasn't the start to the week North Carolina was hoping for on the recruiting trail. First, Toni Bryant committed to Missouri (just a week after his official visit to Chapel Hill), followed by Ariza's decision to not visit North Carolina just days before he was expected to arrive on campus.

Before anyone freaks out (which we know will happen), let's remember: this type of thing happens on a regular basis.

Once a player determines his interest in a given program, they typically don't waste their (or the schools) time by visiting. Ariza must have made the determination that North Carolina wasn't the right fit for him, allowing him the opportunity to focus on situations that might better suit him.

Similar to Bryant, sure, it stinks. But don't worry: Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program have already begun to pivot as they look for high school recruits who want to call Chapel Hill their future home.