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UNC Basketball recruiting targets fill Rivals' updated Class of 2026 top-10 rankings

The UNC basketball program has been heavily recruiting some of the guys featured on Rivals' latest top-10 list.
ByNick Delahanty|
Dec 17, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis during the first half against the Florida Gators at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Dec 17, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis during the first half against the Florida Gators at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The UNC basketball program has been going big game hunting during the 2026 recruiting cycle.

North Carolina has been actively pursing some of the top talents that this recruiting class has to offer, as evident by Rivals' latest 150 Basketball Rankings update.

The UNC basketball program has extended offers to the following players on this current list:

No. 1- Tyran Stokes
No. 3- Dylan Mingo
No. 4- Caleb Holt
No. 5- Anthony Thompson
No. 6- Jordan Smith
No. 8- Deron Rippey Jr.

Of course, it's important to note that rankings tend to differ by recruiting site. While Stokes is regarded as the consensus top prospect in the Class of 2026, other rankings (such as 247Sports) view their top 10 a bit differently.

Here's a look at how the prospects North Carolina has been pursuing rank in 247Sports' version:

No. 1- Tyran Stokes
No. 2- Jordan Smith
No. 6- Caleb Holt
No. 7- Dylan Mingo
No. 9- Anthony Thompson
No. 17- Deron Rippey Jr.

This shows us two things: for starters, it shows how there's plenty of talented players in this class who are deserving of top-10 level recognition. On the other hand, it shows how the jury is out for how these players should be ranked starting from No. 2 down.

You can cross Jordan Smith off the Tar Heels' radar, as the UNC basketball program is not among his top five finalists. Additionally, Caleb Holt's recruitment has been quiet in terms of him being potentially linked to North Carolina, while Stokes' recruitment (at the moment) seems to be a three-team race between Kansas, Kentucky and Louisville.

The others on the list all appear to have strong interest in what the UNC basketball program has to offer.

North Carolina has expressed a ton of interest in these players, as Thompson and Rippey Jr. have scheduled official visits to Chapel Hill. While the Tar Heels didn't offer Mingo until late May of this calendar year, he also seems to be fond of Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels.

The Tar Heels need to put together a strong recruiting class to help build for the future. With more uncertainty with future rosters, landing a multi-player recruiting class would be instrumental for the UNC basketball program, especially given their need to challenge for top-tier players (as they did during the 2025 recruiting cycle by landing five-star talent Caleb Wilson).

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