BREAKING NEWS: UNC Basketball Recruiting: Picks Stack Up in High-Profile Race

August 25, 2024 Kerry Will College Basketball 0

Jasper Johnson, a sharpshooting guard from Overtime Elite in Georgia, was raised in Kentucky, where he developed a strong admiration for the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels. The five-star senior received a scholarship offer from Hubert Davis approximately a year ago and has since visited the UNC basketball program twice during his recruitment process.

Jasper Johnson, a talented shooting guard from Overtime Elite in Georgia, grew up in Kentucky, where he developed a deep appreciation for the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels. This five-star senior received a scholarship offer from Hubert Davis about a year ago and has visited the UNC basketball program on two occasions during his recruitment.

According to predictions from the 247Sports Crystal Ball, Rivals FutureCast, and On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, all six forecasts indicate that Mark Pope’s Wildcats are favored to secure a commitment from Jasper Johnson. Notably, five of these predictions emerged within the last few days, including one from Travis Branham, a leading expert on Kentucky recruiting at 247Sports.

Throughout the summer, there was considerable speculation about whether UNC, Kentucky, or Alabama would emerge as the frontrunner for Johnson’s commitment.

The Crimson Tide appeared to be the side to beat before the Wildcats’ advantage suddenly turned to their advantage. Branham said as much himself.

It’s possible to argue that Hubert Davis and his elite UNC basketball recruiting class have been the most reliable in maintaining their perceived second-place standing.

Important Prediction Surfaces for Five-Star Prep Basketball at UNC.

There is just a single 247Sports Crystal Ball forecast for the Jasper Johnson sweepstakes. However, it comes from likely the most trustworthy source and is accompanied by a “high” degree of confidence, which is concerning for UNC basketball’s chances of securing the 6-foot-4, 175-pound five-star recruit.

Predicting that first-year Kentucky head coach Mark Pope will win over UNC’s Hubert Davis, Alabama’s Nate Oats, and Johnson’s other two finalists, Arkansas and Louisville, national recruiting expert Travis Branham entered the pick on Thursday night. Jacob Polacheck of On3 did the same in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine a little over an hour later.

Johnson, a native of Kentucky and the 10th-ranked player overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, recently revealed that he will be moving from Link Academy (Mo.) to Overtime Elite (Ga.). He hasn’t yet provided a formal date for the announcement. But according to his camp, he intends to declare a winner by the end of August.

Since September of last year, the left-handed shooter has been a top pick for the UNC basketball team. Jasper Johnson visited Chapel Hill for business in early February and returned in late June for an unofficial visit with the Tar Heels.

Four-star center Malachi Moreno of Great Crossing High School (Ky.) is the only prospect of the eighteen prospects who have reported an offer from Hubert Davis to have made an announcement about his decision. He has been courting Jasper Johnson to accompany him in Lexington as he makes his way to Kentucky.

Dad of Top UNC Basketball Player Who Made It to the Finals Has a Clear Slate.

The visit with the Tar Heels is presumably a sign that head coach of UNC basketball Hubert Davis and his team have a chance to sign Dybantsa.

Anicet Dybantsa Sr., the father of the 6-foot-9, 200-pound wonder, confirmed this in a recent interview with 247Sports’ Eric Bossi. He listed his son’s seven choices as UNC, Kansas State, Kansas, Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, and BYU.

During his most recent appearance on the 247Sports College Basketball Show, Bossi said, “I spoke with AJ’s father, and he made it pretty clear that he’s entering this process open to everyone and that everyone has a clean slate and equal footing.” “Now, I realize that when people hear it, they all roll their eyes. Once more, though, this is direct from the source.

Intel on UNC Basketball Schedule: Multiple Game Times Confirmed.

The Maui Invitational set the times for the first and second rounds of action earlier this week. The first game of the UNC basketball team’s Hawaiian tournament schedule is a matchup with Dayton on November 25 at 11:30 p.m. ET at the Lahaina Civic Center. The following night, at either 8:30 or 11 p.m. ET, they will play either Auburn or Iowa State.

ESPN announced on Thursday that the Tar Heels’ game against Florida at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center’s Jumpman Invitational is scheduled for December 17 at 7 p.m. ET.

Additionally on Thursday, the official UNC basketball social media channels revealed that tickets for the Heels’ CBS Sports Classic matchup against UCLA in Madison Square Garden, New York City, on December 21 at 3 p.m. ET, are now available:

This is the full 12-game UNC non-conference schedule (one additional game against Hawaii allowed to prepare for the Maui Invitational), which includes all of the game times that have been released thus far. It also includes the ACC regular season schedule (dates not yet confirmed) that await Hubert Davis’s fourth group of Tar Heels:

November 8 against Kansas, Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kan. Nov. 4 vs. Elon, Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Nov. 15 at Smith Center versus American

November 22 in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center

Nov. 25 at the Maui Invitational, Lahaina Civic Center, Lahaina, Hawaii, 11:30 p.m. ET vs. Dayton

Nov. 26 at the Maui Invitational, Lahaina Civic Center, 8:30 or 11 p.m. ET vs. Auburn or Iowa State

November 27, Lahaina Civic Center, Maui Invitational Game 3

Dec. 4, Smith Center, ACC/SEC Challenge vs. Alabama

Dec. 14 at Smith Center against La Salle

Dec. 17 Jumpman Invitational, Spectrum Center, Charlotte, 7 p.m. ET vs. Florida

UCLA vs. Dec. 21, CBS Sports Classic, Madison Square Garden, New York City, 3 p.m. ET

Dec. 29 at Smith Center against Campbell

UNC Basketball Treasure Returns to Workout at Smith Center.

Armando Bacot, a former five-year standout for UNC basketball, looked happy as he hooped on Roy Williams Court in the Dean E. Smith Center on Thursday, joining graduate guard RJ Davis, other old teammates, and the program’s strong group of freshmen.

Bacot is starting construction on his first hotel, a Home2 Suites in Raleigh, this week. The 24-year-old Richmond native is obviously not having any trouble making his imprint as a professional by taking advantage of the opportunities that his UNC degree and notoriety have given him, even though he was not selected this summer:

Nevertheless, after playing for the Utah Jazz in last month’s Summer League action, he’ll probably carve out a career for himself in basketball someplace in the G League the following season.

Bacot, who is ranked second on the program’s all-time scoring chart and is the all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles in UNC basketball history, clearly enjoys being “back on the home court” based on the images that the Tar Heels’ social media team shared on Thursday:

The four-time All-ACC selection amassed 2,347 points, 1,715 rebounds, and 216 blocks in five seasons as a full-time starter in Chapel Hill, all while shooting 55.2 percent from the field. He has the most rebounds of any player in ACC history.

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