UNC refusing to give up on 5-star target despite bad news expected for Hubert Davis

It just feels like nothing but bad news is coming in for the North Carolina Tar Heels right now. Leave it to Dylan Mingo to provide the UNC faithful with a glimmer of hope? In a bit of a twist, Mingo was expected to announce his commitment on Thursday, but things got pushed back there.

In a rough update recently, predictions started coming in for Hubert Davis and his staff to miss out on the 5-star playmaker, with Baylor expected to grab his verbal. Well, not so fast. Not only has Mingo delayed his announcement date, but program greats/assistants Sean May and Marcus Paige made their way to the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. over the weekend, per reporter Jamie Shaw:

UNC basketball won't give up hope in trying to land 5-star talent Dylan Mingo

You can't blame North Carolina at all for continuing to shoot its shot here. Mingo is viewed as one of the best prospects in the country and the Tar Heels clearly turned his head during his official visit in Chapel Hill. However, it does feel like they're behind in the race.

Not only is Baylor the presumed favorite, but Penn State, where Mingo's older brother plays, is also trying to make a splash. Washington is the other finalist on the list, but at this point it'd be a total shocker if he makes the move to Seattle.

Again, Baylor was in the lead and they were also expected to land his commitment on Thursday. With Mingo pushing back his decision, though, it has opened the door for other programs to step in and make additional pitches for the elite youngster.

Mingo is ranked five stars and the No. 2 combo guard in the country per the 247Sports Composite. He's also the No. 1 player out of New York for the 2026 class. For now, UNC has a lot of work to do to try to pull off a stunning recruiting win. The fact that May and Paige made their way to Massachusetts to remind Mingo he's a top priority for UNC was something that needed to be done.