Five-Talented-star shares photos from her visit to the UNC women’s basketball program

September 14, 2024 Kerry Will other 0

Although the primary attention is on the Class of 2025, college coaches nationwide are still monitoring their top prospects from the Class of 2026.

Amari Byles stands out as one of the most highly sought-after players in the Class of 2026. The 6-foot-2 forward is currently recognized by ESPN HoopGurlz as a five-star recruit and is ranked the No. 13 player overall in her class.

This week, Byles took an official visit to Chapel Hill to meet with Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program, posting some photos from her visit shortly after it ended.

Byles posted some pictures with Banghart and a group photo featuring the current members of the UNC women’s basketball team. This serves as a friendly reminder of a crucial aspect of recruiting:

It’s a collective effort that involves the entire team, not just the coaching staff.

The existing roster can have a **SIGNIFICANT** influence on recruiting, as potential recruits get to witness the current team atmosphere. This allows student-athletes to understand how things function at a particular university, especially since the camaraderie among players at North Carolina is among the strongest in the country.

If you keep an eye on some of the top high school prospects considering North Carolina, it’s likely that they’ve taken photos with many, if not all, of the team during their campus visits. This highlights the commitment of everyone involved in the program, as Banghart continues to cultivate something special in Chapel Hill.

The UNC women’s basketball program has recently secured commitments from two stars in the Class of 2025 and is certainly not finished on the recruiting front. Could Byles’ campus visit help her realize that Chapel Hill is the right fit for her.

UNC Football: Max Johnson has returned to Chapel Hill.

After suffering a significant season-ending injury during the UNC football team’s opening game, Johnson has now been cleared to return to Chapel Hill. He spent two weeks in Minnesota receiving treatment for his injury, and his father, Brad, posted an update confirming his return to North Carolina.

Mack Brown and the UNC football program are undoubtedly pleased to have him back on campus. Brown posted a picture of himself with Johnson on social media, expressing gratitude to those who cared for his quarterback in recent weeks.

Injuries like the one Johnson experienced are among the most challenging aspects of sports, profoundly affecting the lives of student-athletes. Their families also feel the impact, as they are deeply involved in this journey alongside the athletes.

No one, especially Johnson, wanted his debut with the UNC football program to unfold in this manner. While it’s unfortunate that things turned out this way, the positive news is that Johnson has returned to Chapel Hill and is focused on his recovery, aiming to get back on the field in 2025.

UNC Basketball: Five-star guard Jasper Johnson isn’t Chapel Hill bound.

The recruiting journey of Jasper Johnson has come to a close. The five-star shooting guard from the Class of 2025 has decided to remain in his home state by committing to the University of Kentucky.

This afternoon, Johnson made his official commitment announcement in the gym at Woodford County High School in Versailles, Kentucky. Having grown up in Lexington and attended Woodford County during his freshman and sophomore years, this location holds special significance for him.

Surrounded by family, friends, and enthusiastic students from Woodford County, the crowd erupted in excitement when Johnson unveiled a Kentucky Wildcats jersey. Among those beaming with pride was his father, Dennis Johnson, a former All-SEC defensive end at Kentucky. The commitment was live-streamed on the 247Sports YouTube channel and CBS Sports HQ.

Johnson had narrowed his options down to five finalists: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisville, and North Carolina. However, in recent months, the competition had primarily narrowed to three contenders: Alabama, Kentucky, and UNC, all making significant efforts to recruit the elite guard.

His recruitment was a rollercoaster, proving to be the most entertaining and unpredictable of the 2025 class. For much of July and August, Alabama and North Carolina were viewed as the frontrunners for Johnson. But as the decision date approached, Kentucky made a strong push, ultimately changing the narrative. Kentucky Head Coach Mark Pope was persistent in securing his hometown talent and succeeded in the end.

By the time Johnson announced his official commitment date, predictions from crystal ball analysts on 247Sports, Rivals, and On3 overwhelmingly favored Kentucky.

According to 247Sports, Johnson is ranked No. 12 in the Class of 2025 and stands out as one of the top scorers, holding the position of the No. 2 shooting guard. As a junior at Link Academy, he averaged 13.5 points per game and nearly 20 points per game during the EYBL Peach Jam circuit in July. For his senior year, he will compete in the Overtime Elite program.

In Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class, Johnson joins four-star center Malachi Moreno, another Kentucky native and the No. 3 ranked center in the class according to 247Sports.

While it may be disappointing for North Carolina, Johnson’s choice for Kentucky wasn’t unexpected. As a Kentucky native and legacy recruit following in his father’s footsteps, he visited Kentucky 11 times compared to just two visits to North Carolina and one to Alabama, indicating a strong inclination towards becoming a Wildcat.

However, it’s not time for the Tar Heels to panic. Head Coach Hubert Davis and North Carolina are still pursuing several talented guards in the 2025 class, including four-star prospects Acaden Lewis, Isaiah Dennis, and Derek Dixon. Dixon is set to visit Chapel Hill this weekend, followed by Dennis on September 28 and Lewis on October 4.

UNC Basketball to compete in the St. Jude Tip Off Classic.

Following the announcement of an exhibition game scheduled for late October at the Dean Smith Center, the UNC basketball program revealed that they will participate in the St. Jude Tip-Off Classic on October 15.

This charity exhibition game will take the Tar Heels to Memphis, Tennessee, where they will face Penny Hardaway and the Tigers. The game is set to tip-off at 7:00 PM EST at the FedEx Forum and will be broadcast on ESPNU.

Many players who have donned the Carolina Blue have spent considerable time at the local children’s hospital in Chapel Hill, making it especially meaningful for the UNC basketball program to participate in this exhibition, which will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

This event represents a wonderful cause and a valuable chance for Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels to gain some game experience. While the Tar Heels return several key players, there are also many new faces, and these two exhibition games will help the team come together before the regular season begins.

For Memphis, Hardaway and the Tigers lost their top six scorers from last season but have revamped their roster through the transfer portal. This exhibition will be the first opportunity for the Tigers to showcase their new lineup against an outside opponent.

Thanks to new NCAA rules, teams can now schedule exhibitions like this one, moving away from the era of “secret scrimmages.” This change allows programs more flexibility to compete in preseason games while supporting a good cause, as evidenced by this exhibition.

UNC Basketball: Jeff Lebo made a visit to see this Class of 2026 standout.

Landing the in-state hometown hero is always a bit more special, and that’s precisely what the UNC basketball coaching staff aims to achieve with 2026 recruit Cole Cloer.

Head coach Hubert Davis and his team have been actively visiting various high school players from the Class of 2025. However, it’s also important for coaches to look ahead and establish relationships with future recruiting classes.

Justin Byerly, an editor for HoopSeenNC and the owner of The Byerly Report scouting platform, reported that assistant coach Jeff Lebo paid a visit to Cloer at his high school on Thursday.

Cloer is ranked as the No. 23 overall recruit in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches, he is also the top player from North Carolina.

Residing about 30 minutes from Chapel Hill, Cloer attended North Carolina’s home-opening football game last week. His visit to campus and the strong relationship being developed with the North Carolina coaching staff are positive indicators.

Adding Cloer would be a significant first step for the Tar Heels’ 2026 recruiting class, as his offensive skills are exceptional. While playing for Team CP3 in the EYBL 16U Division during the spring season, Cloer averaged 16.8 points per game with an impressive 46.2% shooting from three-point range, along with 4.5 rebounds per game.

With his size and smooth shooting ability, Cloer has tremendous potential. Although he will need to add some muscle and develop his physique over time, that will happen as he matures.

Fans of the Tar Heels should be thrilled about the connection between Cloer and the UNC basketball program and should keep a close eye on his recruitment. There is hope that the Tar Heels can secure his commitment and keep him in his home state.

 

 

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