Fans of the UNC basketball program will be encouraged to see the Tar Heels hitting the road to take a look at elite, up-and-coming big man prospect Toni Bryant. The five-star high school junior would be a massive addition to the Tar Heels’ future front court.
Jamie Shaw — Senior National Recruiting Analyst at On3 — announced the Tar Heels went to North Tampa Christian Academy on Monday night to watch Bryant play.
UNC was by @NTChoops last night to see 2026 PF Toni Bryant (@the_Tonibryant).
— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) January 14, 2025
Bryant finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 blocks in the win.https://t.co/R8MYpTECnP
Bryant’s statline was nothing short of spectacular, flirting with a triple-double. Bryant’s most impressive stat of all was his seven blocks — providing world-class rim protection and swatting any shot in his area.
Bryant is an incredibly highly-touted junior. He’s the No. 11 overall recruit in the Class of 2026, according to 247 Sports. He’s also the No. 2 ranked power forward in the class and the No. 1 player in Florida.
It’s no secret that North Carolina is a guard-dominant team this year. And while having one of the best guard groups in the nation is a strength, Head Coach Hubert Davis will need to look for a more balanced approach in the coming seasons. It’s been a handful of years since UNC has landed an elite big man recruit.
However, things are trending in the right direction for UNC’s post play. The recent emergence of Jalen Washington as a rim protector has been key for the Tar Heels. Washington is averaging a ridiculous four blocks in his last three games, and he also logged his first career double-double in UNC’s win over rival NC State. The Tar Heels also remain firmly in contention for five-star, top-10 2025 power forward Caleb Wilson. And now, the staff is laying the foundation for 2026 five-star power forward Bryant.
Now, we'll wait and see if the Tar Heels can bring in some of the country's top big men to replinish their depth at the position moving forward.