The state of North Carolina's top young basketball prospects get a lot of local media exposure. Playing in the tradition rich state definitely helps as does the plethora of media members who regularly attend the high school games and tournaments.
Roy Williams has had much success in targeting many of the top flight talents in his home state. Aside from Brandon Ingram, Harry Giles, Dennis Smith and Bam Adebayo -- the UNC staff has arguably had their pick of in-state talent.
After missing on the aforementioned four, the Hall-of-Fame coach has really focused with extra passion on the next wave of stars from the state. Names like Rechon Black, Coby White, Jairus Hamilton, Devon Dotson, Josh Nickelberry, Joey Baker and Wendell Moore.
Black and White have both verbally committed to UNC from the junior class. And Williams has put early offers out to Moore, our pick for the best sophomore in the state, as well as Nickelberry, who is likely the 2nd best 10th grader in the state. Baker, a versatile 6-7 forward, could be the next one to get an offer as well.
Up in Virginia, the neighboring state to the north also has some fine junior and sophomore prospects on the UNC radar.
The juniors are paced by 6-10 David McCormack, a 280-pound bull-dozer from Norfolk, the same city that produced former Heel, James Michael McAdoo. McCormack, a former elite football prospect, is one of the strongest interior players in his class and he has a chance to be elite with a consistent commitment to his body.
Jaelin Llewellyn and Brandon Slater are the next best two juniors in the state. Llewellyn, a super-quick 6-foot-3 combo guard, originally from Canada, is having a great season at Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, VA. He is a playmaker with shocking athletic ability and speed in the open court.
Slater, a product of Paul VI in Fairfax, VA is a skywalker at 6-7 who can also go on scoring runs as a shooter. He holds over a dozen offers and has a chance to be even better if he continues to develop his handle.
The sophomores in the state are even more talented than the juniors. It all starts with 6-9 center Armando Bacot from Richmond who suits up for Trinity Episcopal. He is a guy who has all of the tools -- footwork, feel, touch and size. His ability to pass, shoot, post up, seal and score are at the nationally elite level. He needs to keep improving his stamina and get stronger as many sophomores do, but it's an easy call to say that he is the best big man that we've seen in the region since Ed Davis.
Aundre Hyatt, a big-bodied 6-6, 230-pound wing is projecting as the 2nd best sophomore right now in the state. And he is originally from White Plains, NY. The long limbed shooting ace moved to the rural mountains, just west of Charlottesville to get away from the constant distractions of the big city. He is a bona-fide weapon as a high major wing forward due to his range as a shooter. The jumbo wing is also very fundamentally sound as a rebounder, passer and system player.
Qudus Wahab rounds out the sophomore trio for the state as a long, slender, athletic big man who can really get up and down the court.
The 6-11, 225-pound sophomore, originally from Nigeria, is playing at Virginia Academy in Ashburn, Virginia. He passes the eye test with his explosive leaping ability, hand-eye coordination, agility and shot blocking prowess. For any speedy college program who needs their big man to run, Wahab is definitely worth the evaluation.
- Clint Jackson
Roy Williams has had much success in targeting many of the top flight talents in his home state. Aside from Brandon Ingram, Harry Giles, Dennis Smith and Bam Adebayo -- the UNC staff has arguably had their pick of in-state talent.
After missing on the aforementioned four, the Hall-of-Fame coach has really focused with extra passion on the next wave of stars from the state. Names like Rechon Black, Coby White, Jairus Hamilton, Devon Dotson, Josh Nickelberry, Joey Baker and Wendell Moore.
Black and White have both verbally committed to UNC from the junior class. And Williams has put early offers out to Moore, our pick for the best sophomore in the state, as well as Nickelberry, who is likely the 2nd best 10th grader in the state. Baker, a versatile 6-7 forward, could be the next one to get an offer as well.
Up in Virginia, the neighboring state to the north also has some fine junior and sophomore prospects on the UNC radar.
The juniors are paced by 6-10 David McCormack, a 280-pound bull-dozer from Norfolk, the same city that produced former Heel, James Michael McAdoo. McCormack, a former elite football prospect, is one of the strongest interior players in his class and he has a chance to be elite with a consistent commitment to his body.
Jaelin Llewellyn and Brandon Slater are the next best two juniors in the state. Llewellyn, a super-quick 6-foot-3 combo guard, originally from Canada, is having a great season at Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, VA. He is a playmaker with shocking athletic ability and speed in the open court.
Slater, a product of Paul VI in Fairfax, VA is a skywalker at 6-7 who can also go on scoring runs as a shooter. He holds over a dozen offers and has a chance to be even better if he continues to develop his handle.
The sophomores in the state are even more talented than the juniors. It all starts with 6-9 center Armando Bacot from Richmond who suits up for Trinity Episcopal. He is a guy who has all of the tools -- footwork, feel, touch and size. His ability to pass, shoot, post up, seal and score are at the nationally elite level. He needs to keep improving his stamina and get stronger as many sophomores do, but it's an easy call to say that he is the best big man that we've seen in the region since Ed Davis.
Aundre Hyatt, a big-bodied 6-6, 230-pound wing is projecting as the 2nd best sophomore right now in the state. And he is originally from White Plains, NY. The long limbed shooting ace moved to the rural mountains, just west of Charlottesville to get away from the constant distractions of the big city. He is a bona-fide weapon as a high major wing forward due to his range as a shooter. The jumbo wing is also very fundamentally sound as a rebounder, passer and system player.
Qudus Wahab rounds out the sophomore trio for the state as a long, slender, athletic big man who can really get up and down the court.
The 6-11, 225-pound sophomore, originally from Nigeria, is playing at Virginia Academy in Ashburn, Virginia. He passes the eye test with his explosive leaping ability, hand-eye coordination, agility and shot blocking prowess. For any speedy college program who needs their big man to run, Wahab is definitely worth the evaluation.
- Clint Jackson
