Taking a Look at 2020/2021

[Tarheel75]

Now that the dust is settling somewhat in regards to 2019/2020 recruiting, I wanted to summarize how I personally feel and think about this class of recruits. I would like to welcome any who are of a like mind too, to add your own summaries and thoughts as well. I really enjoy reading and reviewing what most of you post because it intrigues me to see the depth of your knowledge and understanding of Carolina basketball or just...., college basketball in general.

1. R.J. Davis: 5-11 LG ( TH75 grade A )
Has that NY basketball state of mind ( if you get my drift ) when playing. Can handle the ball with either hand equally, and that speaks well as to ball security. Can shoot with above average success out to and beyond 3 point range. Is very tough minded, and has some "dog" in his game. Can pass the ball, and create for others. Has a scorers mentality. Has no fear of going in against the trees inside when he decides to. Great basketball IQ

2. Caleb Love: 6-3 LG/CG? ( TH75 grade A+ )
There is not one thing not to like about this kid's game, so I will save myself some typing space. He's first and foremost a LG, but I really think he will also play some 2G in combination with some of the other guards we have. This kid CAN SHOOT IT, and will draw defenders out and create issues for the competition on the inside. Great passer, great handles, which again, bodes well for ball security. Also again..., Great basketball IQ.

3. Donovan ( Puff ) Johnson 6-7 WF ( TH grade A- )
With the addition of Puff, we finally have our WF that can shoot, and will most likely play some at the 4 over time. Decent handle, willing to stick his nose in the paint and mix it up. Although, I hope he only does that selectively until he has had a trip through the S & C w/ Jonas, as he is still growing and is rather spindly physically. What has not been mentioned concerning Puff, is his real desire to play defense. This is great, as I know for a fact that He & Cam have had a lengthy discussion about defense being your ticket to playing time early..., hell, for that matter, one's entire college career. He may grow some more, after all, he is only 17 and I know that I grew 2-1/2 inches from 17-18. And again has a good IQ in basketball.

4. Day'Ron Sharpe 6-10 C/F ( TH75 grade A+)
The 1st of this class to come on board. His steady improvement over the last 18 months has earned him a lot of accolades from evaluators. He is a very welcome addition for the front court players. After going so many years begging players like him to come to UNC, Roy may have an embarrassment of riches here, if Bacot decides not to be 1 & done. Regardless of that, our interior will be stout with Sharpe playing along side of Garrision next year. Along with the next one on the list. Basketball IQ? Acceptable, but much will depend on his development early.

5. Walker Kessler 7-0 F/C ( TH75 grade A )
There are some, I have gathered, who are not overly impressed with Walker. I have watched his film, spoke with coaches, and some former players about him. The consensus was, he might be the best of group. Well, that's some high praise when considering the attributes of the other 4. He runs the floor well, and is much quicker that you would imagine for his size. Collectively, we might would put him somewhere between Brad Daugherty, and the in shape Sean May in regards to running the floor, and that's pretty good company, I suppose. What sticks out about Kessler, is his offensive output. This kid can shoot from anywhere you want him to in the half court. He is very accurate from 25 ft. and in. Has a smooth touch on short shots. There is nothing to hate on with him. Although, I couldn't get a good lead on his defensive abilities watching his film. Very Smart player.

So, after typing all of the above, I reiterate, that this has to be one of the all time best recruiting classes that Roy and staff have put together collectively. This class has each spot on the floor covered. Roy has mixed this class with 1& done's and multi-year players. As I have already said in other posts, when you add these to what we will have returning next year, we are going to be very strong inside and out. The only issue, is that we will still be rather youthful. If not for that fact, I would say that UNC should be the odds on favorites next year.

Are we through with recruiting? Most likely, I would think. But you never say never, as I have suspicions that we will have a slot or two open up next spring.

 

[ajklum]

Sounds like a great problem to have. Some great things could happen, but some great coaching will have to transpire to make anything of that group.

 

[Tarheel75]

Sounds like a great problem to have. Some great things could happen, but some great coaching will have to transpire to make anything of that group.

Interesting...,you pose that last question as though you have doubts about this staffs coaching ability. What, pray tell, concerns you about this group of recruits, or the coaching staffs' history of developing players, that would lead to such a ridiculous statement or assumption?

 

[GoToHeelDook]

Interesting...,you pose that last question as though you have doubts about this staffs coaching ability. What, pray tell, concerns you about this group of recruits, or the coaching staffs' history of developing players, that would lead to such a ridiculous statement or assumption?

I had the same “Huh?” reaction. I even scratched my head.

 

[xtarheelx]

Dumb fish bites.
Strong fish pulls.
Wise fish ignores.
-T.Lee

 

[Tarheel75]

I had the same “Huh?” reaction. I even scratched my head.

I suspect we have a dookie on the board. If so, he has nerve, to post that drivel considering his staff has had the #1 or #2 recruiting classes the last what, 4-5 years, and what great achievements did they manage? What he is doing is tantamount to "whistling through the grave yard". Well, he should be concerned for his beloved blow devils. And yes, I know what you have coming next year, as it doesn't matter, we will have the advantage at most every position.

 

[ajklum]

you guys go out of your way to smell a troll where one doesnt exist. My thought are merely that with that wealth of talent...keeping everyone happy will be a chore for the coaching staff. People complain about dook and K-sucky recruiting over players already on the team, but UNC did the same thing here. Dont get me wrong...I hope they mesh like champions they can be, but somebody's feelings are bound to get hurt if the coaching staff hasnt coached them up. and in this case it might just be some heart to hearts for some of the experienced people on the team. A wealth of talent will swing into Chapel Hill next season and there are a lot of players that are/were probably thinking...I am gonna work my tail off and bide my time and when I am a jr or sr, I will get to be a bigger part of the game. But then this wealth of talent comes in and when you were hoping to get 15-20 minutes a game as a Junior...you are actually getting less minutes then when you were a freshmen. And the coaching staff will have to fix that. Only one ball and 200 minutes to go around.

 

[dadika13]

Sounds like a great problem to have. Some great things could happen, but some great coaching will have to transpire to make anything of that group.

I don't think you're trolling or a dukie as the others, but you probably want to word that better.

Instead of making "anything" of that group, probably want to say "everything". We know our staff will make something of them but I agree with your 2nd post that it is definitely a challenge to keep top talent all happy. Coaches have struggled with it since the invention of sports.

However, I think we have the right blend of contribute right away vs. grow into the program that everyone should be very happy. And our staff is great at having everyone buy into their role so I'm not very worried about our guys being unhappy.

 

[NorCalTarheel]

75- thank you for mentioning defense in each of our players evals. Defense is what gets players on the court, regardless of their offensive ability (see J. Felek, seventh woods etc.)

Most think of Carolina basketball as an up tempo, fast paced, offensive explosion, but none of that happens without the two real consistencies in our teams over the years-defense and rebounding.

Does anyone have any input as to rebounding chops on anyone other than Sharp (who seems to be an animal in that regard)?

I think the rebounding defense part is what had people excited about Timberlake (Miami), and or Greg Brown.

I could not be happier with this class. Okay, maybe if ZW joins I would be a little happier but as Gary mentioned earlier, that is a luxury now.

 

[Tom79]

Some of the players coming in to UNC have more on their collective minds than just PT. They came to our place for the staff, continued improvement in their games, to perhaps play professionally and um, perhaps even win a natty. 5 stars at positions 1-5 is a problem Roy and staff will handle.

 

[Steat]

Excellent OP.

I'm not going to assume that Brooks will be returning for a senior year. If he has a breakout year and shows that he can consistently hit the 10-15 foot jump all bets are off. At worse, he may decide that making a decent living in Europe is not a bad gig.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

I just stopped by to say that hearing people say 2020/2021 out loud is going to be priceless.

 

[TarHeelTroy]

you guys go out of your way to smell a troll where one doesnt exist. My thought are merely that with that wealth of talent...keeping everyone happy will be a chore for the coaching staff. People complain about dook and K-sucky recruiting over players already on the team, but UNC did the same thing here. Dont get me wrong...I hope they mesh like champions they can be, but somebody's feelings are bound to get hurt if the coaching staff hasnt coached them up. and in this case it might just be some heart to hearts for some of the experienced people on the team. A wealth of talent will swing into Chapel Hill next season and there are a lot of players that are/were probably thinking...I am gonna work my tail off and bide my time and when I am a jr or sr, I will get to be a bigger part of the game. But then this wealth of talent comes in and when you were hoping to get 15-20 minutes a game as a Junior...you are actually getting less minutes then when you were a freshmen. And the coaching staff will have to fix that. Only one ball and 200 minutes to go around.

Who specifically would you say was recruited over? Or worded differently, who would you say might FEEL they were recruited over?

 

[iwish]

Who specifically would you say was recruited over? Or worded differently, who would you say might FEEL they were recruited over?

I was going to ask the same question. The one area the Heels needed to improve in for sure was complete depth across the roster. Taking into account the grad transfers, the OAD's, the 2-4 year talent and then the bench, I believe we strongly improve in this area. Roy is lining up his most complete team in many, many years.

 

[Tarheel75]

you guys go out of your way to smell a troll where one doesnt exist. My thought are merely that with that wealth of talent...keeping everyone happy will be a chore for the coaching staff. People complain about dook and K-sucky recruiting over players already on the team, but UNC did the same thing here. Dont get me wrong...I hope they mesh like champions they can be, but somebody's feelings are bound to get hurt if the coaching staff hasnt coached them up. and in this case it might just be some heart to hearts for some of the experienced people on the team. A wealth of talent will swing into Chapel Hill next season and there are a lot of players that are/were probably thinking...I am gonna work my tail off and bide my time and when I am a jr or sr, I will get to be a bigger part of the game. But then this wealth of talent comes in and when you were hoping to get 15-20 minutes a game as a Junior...you are actually getting less minutes then when you were a freshmen. And the coaching staff will have to fix that. Only one ball and 200 minutes to go around.

Ok, if I misjudged your intent, you have my apology. I agree with dadika 13, that maybe phrasing your thoughts differently and little more logically will keep folks like myself from misinterpreting your meaning(s).

What you, and perhaps others may not know, is that when Roy recruits a young man, he must first determine his talent level, secondly, he must determine if he studious (think grade transcripts here) to the point of passing our admissions department. Thirdly, he must pass the character test that Roy employs for each and every recruit. Fourthly, he must determine if the young man wants to be recruited by UNC ( think reciprocal relationships ).

Then the relationship begins to develop. Roy recruits kids with very good character, which can and does mean that they get along well with their teammates, and are coachable. Within this particular scope of thought, you have kids that have varying degrees of talent. It's been that way forever.
Now..., to your point of there being hard feelings about playing time and it causing rifts or issues between coaches and players is a non sequitur.

Here's why...., Who determines who starts and how much playing time an individual player gets? ANSWER--the individual player does. When and where is this determined? ANSWER--at and from multiple practices. Each individual player has a mandatory meeting with coaching staff before and after each season, and are informed on what they have to improve on to get a certain amount of playing time. IT'S UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYER to determine his progress and growth.

That's why you hear of players grabbing a coach after practice to get help to improve, so that they can play more minutes, that's why they stay for summer school and play pick up with others, it's to improve their games and get more time on the court.

The coaching staff knows after so many practices, who will give the team the best chance to win in all games. What's more....THE PLAYERS KNOW THIS AS WELL. So, how can one get upset that they are not playing enough, when they have had it proved to them over and over in practices, who the better player is.

Now, an individuals competitive spirit can keep one striving to improve to the point that one get's upgraded, and in many cases, it has in the past. Because of the way Roy recruits, the character of the kids he recruits keep them from causing issues with other players, and learning to accept your roll on the team. This is called bonding with each other and not disliking one another because of amount of playing time.

 

[ajklum]

Who specifically would you say was recruited over? Or worded differently, who would you say might FEEL they were recruited over?

Bacot will think that way. I love his enthusiasm but from outside 6 feet he cant throw it in the ocean. Sharpe and Kessler are better and they both will play Center... with Kessler being able to be a stretch 4. Bacot addresses a need now because of Manley and Huffman's inability to play (for other reasons). Huffman could feel recruited over. In a system that is slow and methodical he could be a starter. He has the size and strength to battle anyone, but next year he will find himself behind Bacot, Kessler and Sharpe. Who knows what is going on inside these KIDS heads? And that is just the bigs. Harris and Platek could definitely feel recruited over. Love (who I love), RJ Davis and now Puff will come in and probably get better run than Platek or Harris. Better players play...I get that. But if you are kid that was the star on their high school team and one of the best basketball players in the country, goto a very prestigious UNC and you are never given the chance to play it stands to reason that you might feel slighted that you might be getting recruited over. It is the nature of recruiting, and I get that, but it doesnt mean that some of the recruits wont feel slighted.

 

[Steat]

North Carolina now has the #2 Ranked Recruiting Class for 2020.

Caleb Love 5 star
Walker Kessler 5 star
Day’Ron Sharpe 5-star
Puff Johnson 4-star
RJ Davis 4-star

 

[Archer2]

Now that the dust is settling somewhat in regards to 2019/2020 recruiting, I wanted to summarize how I personally feel and think about this class of recruits. I would like to welcome any who are of a like mind too, to add your own summaries and thoughts as well. I really enjoy reading and reviewing what most of you post because it intrigues me to see the depth of your knowledge and understanding of Carolina basketball or just...., college basketball in general.

Just want to start by saying you're one of my favorite posters here. You've got some insider info and you present your opinions in a respectful, knowledgeable manner. And you refrain from resorting to petty arguing which is becoming too common on this site.

1. R.J. Davis: 5-11 LG ( TH75 grade A )
Has that NY basketball state of mind ( if you get my drift ) when playing. Can handle the ball with either hand equally, and that speaks well as to ball security. Can shoot with above average success out to and beyond 3 point range. Is very tough minded, and has some "dog" in his game. Can pass the ball, and create for others. Has a scorers mentality. Has no fear of going in against the trees inside when he decides to. Great basketball IQ.

Love those NY players, we have been blessed to have several over the years. I love this kid's multifaceted game and think he will be a very solid player for us. As you say, he seems to have that toughness that I love to see.

2. Caleb Love: 6-3 LG/CG? ( TH75 grade A+ )
There is not one thing not to like about this kid's game, so I will save myself some typing space. He's first and foremost a LG, but I really think he will also play some 2G in combination with some of the other guards we have. This kid CAN SHOOT IT, and will draw defenders out and create issues for the competition on the inside. Great passer, great handles, which again, bodes well for ball security. Also again..., Great basketball IQ.

Yep, not much to nit pick in Caleb's game. I too feel he can play some SG if needed. Has the tools to be a very good defender. If Cole is OAD, which is pretty much a given, Caleb will likely step right in at point, with RJ and possibly Jeremiah as backups.

3. Donovan ( Puff ) Johnson 6-7 WF ( TH grade A- )
With the addition of Puff, we finally have our WF that can shoot, and will most likely play some at the 4 over time. Decent handle, willing to stick his nose in the paint and mix it up. Although, I hope he only does that selectively until he has had a trip through the S & C w/ Jonas, as he is still growing and is rather spindly physically. What has not been mentioned concerning Puff, is his real desire to play defense. This is great, as I know for a fact that He & Cam have had a lengthy discussion about defense being your ticket to playing time early..., hell, for that matter, one's entire college career. He may grow some more, after all, he is only 17 and I know that I grew 2-1/2 inches from 17-18. And again has a good IQ in basketball.

As I have stated numerous times, Puff is a young man that I really wanted to see at UNC. For starters, we all know what a fine young man Cam was, having been raised in a great family environment. Puff has benefited from that as well, which makes me think we are getting another fine young man. Secondly, he possesses everything needed to be a guy who can start at SF for 3-4 years, great length, good athleticism, a great outside shot, and as you stated, a
desire to play defense. I think he was the perfect complimentary addition to this class.

4. Day'Ron Sharpe 6-10 C/F ( TH75 grade A+)
The 1st of this class to come on board. His steady improvement over the last 18 months has earned him a lot of accolades from evaluators. He is a very welcome addition for the front court players. After going so many years begging players like him to come to UNC, Roy may have an embarrassment of riches here, if Bacot decides not to be 1 & done. Regardless of that, our interior will be stout with Sharpe playing along side of Garrision next year. Along with the next one on the list. Basketball IQ? Acceptable, but much will depend on his development early.

What can you say? He is a beast. Still a bit raw, but a beast nonetheless. Absolutely great hands.

5. Walker Kessler 7-0 F/C ( TH75 grade A )
There are some, I have gathered, who are not overly impressed with Walker. I have watched his film, spoke with coaches, and some former players about him. The consensus was, he might be the best of group. Well, that's some high praise when considering the attributes of the other 4. He runs the floor well, and is much quicker that you would imagine for his size. Collectively, we might would put him somewhere between Brad Daugherty, and the in shape Shawn May in regards to running the floor, and that's pretty good company, I suppose. What sticks out about Kessler, is his offensive output. This kid can shoot from anywhere you want him to in the half court. He is very accurate from 25 ft. and in. Has a smooth touch on short shots. There is nothing to hate on with him. Although, I couldn't get a good lead on his defensive abilities watching his film. Very Smart player.

Very impressive skills for a true seven footer, especially his ability to shoot the ball with range. Obviously needs to get stronger, as most freshmen do, he will thrive under Jonas' training. I think he's likely a 2-3 year player with being a first round draft pick a possibility.

So, after typing all of the above, I reiterate, that this has to be one of the all time best recruiting classes that Roy and staff have put together collectively. This class has each spot on the floor covered. Roy has mixed this class with 1& done's and multi-year players. As I have already said in other posts, when you add these to what we will have returning next year, we are going to be very strong inside and out. The only issue, is that we will still be rather youthful. If not for that fact, I would say that UNC should be the odds on favorites next year.

I think we checked off all the boxes with this class. It may be the most well rounded classes Roy's ever assembled.

Are we through with recruiting? Most likely, I would think. But you never say never, as I have suspicions that we will have a slot or two open up next spring.

Zaire is a very long shot, IMO, but still a possibility. I think the addition of Puff makes Zaire's commitment less likely.

 

[Archer2]

Better players play...I get that. But if you are kid that was the star on their high school team and one of the best basketball players in the country, goto a very prestigious UNC and you are never given the chance to play it stands to reason that you might feel slighted that you might be getting recruited over.

I swear sometimes you just seem to want to stir the ish. I want to give you the benefit of the doubt and believe that you are a UNC fan but your posts belie that.

"Bacot will feel that way(recruited over) because Sharpe and Kessler are both better". "Huffman could feel recruited over" because he's behind Sharpe/Kessler/Bacot. "Harris and Davis could definitely feel recruited over" because they're behind Love/Davis.

If you come to a top five program, you have to know that you are going to be competing against the very best competition. Roy, unlike many other coaches, will not promise playing time to recruits. As with most programs, the best players are generally going to play the most, regardless of class. But is is not uncommon for Roy to be criticized by our own UNC fans for showing favoritism to upperclassmen.

Will one or more of these players transfer? It's possible, although UNC has a history of having few transfers compared to other elite programs which bring in a lot of talent every year. But if they feel it is in their best interest to do so, I'm sure Roy and the vast majority of our fans will support that decision.

But you have to be honest and realize that most players who can't break into the regular rotation on a program like UNC are very unlikely to play pro ball anyway. Now if they just want to play more, that's another thing entirely. But the vast majority of players, even at schools like UNC, are never going to make the NBA. The winnowing down process is brutal. It's like a huge funnel with a tiny spout where only a handful drip through.

 

[Tarheel75]

Bacot will think that way. I love his enthusiasm but from outside 6 feet he cant throw it in the ocean. Sharpe and Kessler are better and they both will play Center... with Kessler being able to be a stretch 4. Bacot addresses a need now because of Manley and Huffman's inability to play (for other reasons). Huffman could feel recruited over. In a system that is slow and methodical he could be a starter. He has the size and strength to battle anyone, but next year he will find himself behind Bacot, Kessler and Sharpe. Who knows what is going on inside these KIDS heads? And that is just the bigs. Harris and Platek could definitely feel recruited over. Love (who I love), RJ Davis and now Puff will come in and probably get better run than Platek or Harris. Better players play...I get that. But if you are kid that was the star on their high school team and one of the best basketball players in the country, goto a very prestigious UNC and you are never given the chance to play it stands to reason that you might feel slighted that you might be getting recruited over. It is the nature of recruiting, and I get that, but it doesnt mean that some of the recruits wont feel slighted.

Well, for 1, Bacot does not plan to be here next year. Kessler may play some at center, but very little, he is our 4, and his shot making capabilities
make him too important to be stuck in the paint. Manley may or may not be with us next season, we'll see. As for Huff, maybe he likes it here, and has no intention of leaving. As for the guards and /or others I refer you to my
post above.

What, exactly would you have Roy do? Prior to last year there were a fair amount of posters belaboring the fact that we were not getting enough 4 & 5 star talents for us to maintain our winning. Now, we have posts like this that bemoans the fact that we have too much talent. Looks like Roy is
" damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't". I don't understand this line of thought at all.

Name me all the players besides Seventh, that have left the program under the circumstances you note in the last 10 years.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Now that the dust is settling somewhat in regards to 2019/2020 recruiting, I wanted to summarize how I personally feel and think about this class of recruits. I would like to welcome any who are of a like mind too, to add your own summaries and thoughts as well. I really enjoy reading and reviewing what most of you post because it intrigues me to see the depth of your knowledge and understanding of Carolina basketball or just...., college basketball in general.

1. R.J. Davis: 5-11 LG ( TH75 grade A )
Has that NY basketball state of mind ( if you get my drift ) when playing. Can handle the ball with either hand equally, and that speaks well as to ball security. Can shoot with above average success out to and beyond 3 point range. Is very tough minded, and has some "dog" in his game. Can pass the ball, and create for others. Has a scorers mentality. Has no fear of going in against the trees inside when he decides to. Great basketball IQ

2. Caleb Love: 6-3 LG/CG? ( TH75 grade A+ )
There is not one thing not to like about this kid's game, so I will save myself some typing space. He's first and foremost a LG, but I really think he will also play some 2G in combination with some of the other guards we have. This kid CAN SHOOT IT, and will draw defenders out and create issues for the competition on the inside. Great passer, great handles, which again, bodes well for ball security. Also again..., Great basketball IQ.

3. Donovan ( Puff ) Johnson 6-7 WF ( TH grade A- )
With the addition of Puff, we finally have our WF that can shoot, and will most likely play some at the 4 over time. Decent handle, willing to stick his nose in the paint and mix it up. Although, I hope he only does that selectively until he has had a trip through the S & C w/ Jonas, as he is still growing and is rather spindly physically. What has not been mentioned concerning Puff, is his real desire to play defense. This is great, as I know for a fact that He & Cam have had a lengthy discussion about defense being your ticket to playing time early..., hell, for that matter, one's entire college career. He may grow some more, after all, he is only 17 and I know that I grew 2-1/2 inches from 17-18. And again has a good IQ in basketball.

4. Day'Ron Sharpe 6-10 C/F ( TH75 grade A+)
The 1st of this class to come on board. His steady improvement over the last 18 months has earned him a lot of accolades from evaluators. He is a very welcome addition for the front court players. After going so many years begging players like him to come to UNC, Roy may have an embarrassment of riches here, if Bacot decides not to be 1 & done. Regardless of that, our interior will be stout with Sharpe playing along side of Garrision next year. Along with the next one on the list. Basketball IQ? Acceptable, but much will depend on his development early.

5. Walker Kessler 7-0 F/C ( TH75 grade A )
There are some, I have gathered, who are not overly impressed with Walker. I have watched his film, spoke with coaches, and some former players about him. The consensus was, he might be the best of group. Well, that's some high praise when considering the attributes of the other 4. He runs the floor well, and is much quicker that you would imagine for his size. Collectively, we might would put him somewhere between Brad Daugherty, and the in shape Sean May in regards to running the floor, and that's pretty good company, I suppose. What sticks out about Kessler, is his offensive output. This kid can shoot from anywhere you want him to in the half court. He is very accurate from 25 ft. and in. Has a smooth touch on short shots. There is nothing to hate on with him. Although, I couldn't get a good lead on his defensive abilities watching his film. Very Smart player.

So, after typing all of the above, I reiterate, that this has to be one of the all time best recruiting classes that Roy and staff have put together collectively. This class has each spot on the floor covered. Roy has mixed this class with 1& done's and multi-year players. As I have already said in other posts, when you add these to what we will have returning next year, we are going to be very strong inside and out. The only issue, is that we will still be rather youthful. If not for that fact, I would say that UNC should be the odds on favorites next year.

Are we through with recruiting? Most likely, I would think. But you never say never, as I have suspicions that we will have a slot or two open up next spring.

Runaway grade inflation!

Just kidding.

Pleased to see your assessment of RJ. That's exactly what I saw when I was pushing him early and getting resistance from some here.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Sounds like a great problem to have. Some great things could happen, but some great coaching will have to transpire to make anything of that group.

My only concern with that class is that too many of them may leave before they get the full benefit of coaching.

From a fan's point of view, I want all of them to stay several years.

 

[TarHeelTroy]

Bacot will think that way. I love his enthusiasm but from outside 6 feet he cant throw it in the ocean. Sharpe and Kessler are better and they both will play Center... with Kessler being able to be a stretch 4. Bacot addresses a need now because of Manley and Huffman's inability to play (for other reasons). Huffman could feel recruited over. In a system that is slow and methodical he could be a starter. He has the size and strength to battle anyone, but next year he will find himself behind Bacot, Kessler and Sharpe. Who knows what is going on inside these KIDS heads? And that is just the bigs. Harris and Platek could definitely feel recruited over. Love (who I love), RJ Davis and now Puff will come in and probably get better run than Platek or Harris. Better players play...I get that. But if you are kid that was the star on their high school team and one of the best basketball players in the country, goto a very prestigious UNC and you are never given the chance to play it stands to reason that you might feel slighted that you might be getting recruited over. It is the nature of recruiting, and I get that, but it doesnt mean that some of the recruits wont feel slighted.

Disagree that Bacot will think that way, at all. By his twitter, he is obviously the most enthusiastic of anyone on the team about UNC recruiting. What he is most likely thinking is if he stays, with this group coming in, it's just that much more likely that he gets to play for a national championship. Penciling in a freshman starting over a sophomore Bacot a year in advance of them even running out of the Dean dome tunnel for the first time is really jumping the gun. If he does stay through next year, I expect Bacot improves tremendously over the course of this season and from freshman to sophomore. At this point I would expect Bacot does start as a soph. For me personally, I would expect Sharpe and Kessler to come off the bench (assuming Mando and Garrison both stay)

Huffman, yeah, in another system (i.e. at another school) he could be a starter. Sure. But he chose to come to UNC where he knows the best of the country gets recruited to. I have a feeling from his demeanor that Huffman knows who he is (and who he isn't). I seriously doubt he feels the least bit slighted.

Platek and Harris are both 4-year role players, and it's crucial to have those experienced players as the new guys come in, but it's true they may never be starters for UNC. Maybe they will. But this all goes back to the point of the type of character Roy recruits. It's a litte cliché, but still it's true. Roy recruits players that care more about the name on the front. They signed up to play for a hall of fame coach at a legendary university. Again highly doubtful, at least to me, that either feel recruited over.

 

[ajklum]

Disagree that Bacot will think that way, at all. By his twitter, he is obviously the most enthusiastic of anyone on the team about UNC recruiting. What he is most likely thinking is if he stays, with this group coming in, it's just that much more likely that he gets to play for a national championship. Penciling in a freshman starting over a sophomore Bacot a year in advance of them even running out of the Dean dome tunnel for the first time is really jumping the gun. If he does stay through next year, I expect Bacot improves tremendously over the course of this season and from freshman to sophomore. At this point I would expect Bacot does start as a soph. For me personally, I would expect Sharpe and Kessler to come off the bench (assuming Mando and Garrison both stay)



Huffman, yeah, in another system (i.e. at another school) he could be a starter. Sure. But he chose to come to UNC where he knows the best of the country gets recruited to. I have a feeling from his demeanor that Huffman knows who he is (and who he isn't). I seriously doubt he feels the least bit slighted.



Platek and Harris are both 4-year role players, and it's crucial to have those experienced players as the new guys come in, but it's true they may never be starters for UNC. Maybe they will. But this all goes back to the point of the type of character Roy recruits. It's a litte cliché, but still it's true. Roy recruits players that care more about the name on the front. They signed up to play for a hall of fame coach at a legendary university. Again highly doubtful, at least to me, that either feel recruited over.

Time will tell. Sharpe is Ridiculously talented. Bacot ceiling (potentially) is probably Sharpe's baseline. Sharpe just has more bounce and can actually shoot. (did you see that FT percentage last night?) Kessler brings a different type player that Bacot will never be and that type of player is better than Bacot. Dont get me wrong...I love what Bacot brings to the table and I think all of us had to take a deep breath when he went down last night holding his ankle and then his knee.

When Platek came he probably thought he was gonna play a lot. Recruiting wasnt great so the talent level wasnt as high. But ... this class and next class is bringing in some big time talent. Can Platek weather the storm...sure. Kid seems like a class act, but like I said above...Players want to play, and I think that Platek played great last night. But will his numbers take a hit next season? Who knows. Harris is still a question mark for me. I watched his highlight videos and I saw the reviews of people on here that have seen him play and he looks awesome. But...probably a year away from his potential return to 100% which means he comes in really with the next class which makes me wonder how much better he is than a Caleb Love at the 2. I dont know, but Harris might be looking at the line up this year and next and saying...man...at most I will play 10 minutes. Players wanna play. Like I said...before...great problem to have. Just need great coaching to keep everyone rowing on the boat in the same direction.

I think we do have some great young men and I hope there wont be any hurt feelings about playing time. if this team and next years can learn selflessness and be a united front then Great things could be on the way.

 

[TarHeelTroy]

Fair enough, @ajklum

Andrew had a pretty good game last night! Career high in minutes played too. One thing that always stays the same is that things change constantly, from year to year and depends on injuries and many other factors. Harris and others will have their opportunities.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

This is a hilarious conversation from my point of view! All the trollish pot stirrers are on ignore for me, so I just see the responses to them. Boy did I make the right decision.

I am most intrigued by Davis, Kessler, and Puff! I say this because I think they have great potential, but the most room for improvement in this class. Kessler is skilled, but will he develop the strength/stamina to bang with the big boys, D up, and Rebound in/out of his zone! Davis is a dog, but will his shooting translate and will his size become a detriment. Davis plays involved D, but can he be beasted by larger players? Will Davis and Love become a great working tandem? Puff has incredible expectations on him due to his brother being so beloved. Will he be able to withstand this pressure and put in the work to become what we want him to be? Is he a defensive stopper and will he be able to effectively use his length? Sharpe and Love are more known quantities and I fully expect that they will come in and contribute right away! I am excited to see the perfect storm class develop at UNC and fully expect a FF run!

 

[gary-7]

Time will tell. Sharpe is Ridiculously talented. Bacot ceiling (potentially) is probably Sharpe's baseline. Sharpe just has more bounce and can actually shoot. (did you see that FT percentage last night?) Kessler brings a different type player that Bacot will never be and that type of player is better than Bacot. Dont get me wrong...I love what Bacot brings to the table and I think all of us had to take a deep breath when he went down last night holding his ankle and then his knee.

When Platek came he probably thought he was gonna play a lot. Recruiting wasnt great so the talent level wasnt as high. But ... this class and next class is bringing in some big time talent. Can Platek weather the storm...sure. Kid seems like a class act, but like I said above...Players want to play, and I think that Platek played great last night. But will his numbers take a hit next season? Who knows. Harris is still a question mark for me. I watched his highlight videos and I saw the reviews of people on here that have seen him play and he looks awesome. But...probably a year away from his potential return to 100% which means he comes in really with the next class which makes me wonder how much better he is than a Caleb Love at the 2. I dont know, but Harris might be looking at the line up this year and next and saying...man...at most I will play 10 minutes. Players wanna play. Like I said...before...great problem to have. Just need great coaching to keep everyone rowing on the boat in the same direction.

I think we do have some great young men and I hope there wont be any hurt feelings about playing time. if this team and next years can learn selflessness and be a united front then Great things could be on the way.

Caleb was recruited to compete to be our next PG1, as he should.

As for the other comments, yeah, it's the reality when you load up your schollies there's always the dilemma of sorting thru potential playing time... which is one thing I like about multi-year players who can wait their turn. Platek is demonstrating the value of that as we speak, and I suspect that will be the case going forward with Harris, as with Davis and Puff in the next class. That being said, it's a fair point that managing that from a coach's perspective is a "good problem" as they say, but can be challenging nonetheless.