UNC Basketball Recruiting: Tar Heels' Top Targets in 2014 Early Signing Period

Is it time to worry about North Carolina basketball recruiting with the early signing period on the horizon (Nov. 12-19, per NationalLetter.org)?

The short answer is no, even if the Tar Heels don’t have a single commit for the 2015 class yet. After all, Roy Williams landed the No. 3 class in 2014 (according to 247Sports) with Joel Berry, Theo Pinson and Justin Jackson. Pinson and Jackson are both 5-star prospects, per 247Sports’ composite rankings, while Berry checks in as a 4-star.

North Carolina also ended up with the No. 14 class in 2013 and the No. 9 class in 2012, per 247Sports.

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

Expectations are high every season in Chapel Hill, and that’s completely understandable. It is one of the national-title-or-bust programs and certainly earned that distinction through years of dominance.

Still, just about every program in America would love to have the Nos. 9, 14 and 3 classes in the country in three consecutive years. The Tar Heels may not recruit like Kentucky, but there is plenty of winning on the horizon with the latest group of youngsters.

Evan Daniels, a national recruiting analyst for Scout.com, discussed the notion that North Carolina’s recruiting has fallen off recently, via Andrew Carter of The Charlotte Observer:

"

I think that’s valid. But I also think that North Carolina goes after the players that they think they can get, that fit their mold and fit what they’re trying to do. I mean, they’ve still got highly rated guys.

Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson were both very highly rated recruits last year.

"

North Carolina is going to be fine and will likely use the early signing period to make some inroads on 2015 and 2016 prospects, even though it may not get a commitment from anyone.

It is somewhat difficult to project the 2016 recruiting because it will be shaped by North Carolina’s successes or failures in 2015 with factors like scholarship numbers hanging in the balance. However, power forward Harry Giles, small forward Jayson Tatum and point guard Dennis Smith have all caught North Carolina’s attention as some of the best players in the country. 

Landing any of those three would be ideal for the Tar Heels, but fans are likely more concerned with the state of the empty 2015 class with the early signing period approaching. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some potential prospects to keep an eye on.

Brandon Ingram

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Brandon Ingram is a 5-star small forward, per 247Sports, who checks in at 6’8” and may be North Carolina’s top 2015 target. Other powerhouse programs like Duke, Kentucky, UCLA and Kansas have all been connected to Ingram at some point, so Williams certainly has his work cut out for him.

Ingram is a versatile forward who can play both inside and outside. His smooth shooting stroke allows him to connect from behind the three-point line, but he is more than capable of attacking the basket off the dribble as well. 

His length and athleticism also help on the defensive side because he is quick enough to stay in front of guards but long enough to bother the shots of bigger forwards.

Ivan Rabb

Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

North Carolina probably doesn’t have quite as good of a chance to land the 6’10” power forward Ivan Rabb, who is also a 5-star prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings, as it does Ingram. Rabb is trimming down his list of schools, and there was somewhat of an ominous update from Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv and NBA.com, via Jerry Meyer of 247Sports:

Of course, that doesn’t mean North Carolina is out of contention, but schools like Arizona and Kentucky have made an impression on the youngster. 

Rabb is an elite power forward who uses his athleticism and leaping ability to control the glass, swat shots and score around the basket. He has impressive footwork on the block and often finds the basket with offensive putbacks.

Other Targets

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

There are a number of other targets that Williams is eyeing as the early signing period approaches.

Skal Labissiere, Stephen Zimmerman, Diamond Stone and Perry Dozier Jr., among others, are all listed as interested, 5-star prospects by 247Sports’ composite rankings, so North Carolina is certainly swinging for the fences in 2015.

Stone, Labissiere and Zimmerman are all centers, and North Carolina is clearly looking for at least one big man in this class. You can throw Rabb on that list of impact bigs as well. If Brice Johnson does have the breakthrough season that many expect in 2014-15, he could very well leave early for the NBA, which would open up a spot in the frontcourt for at least one of these recruits.

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If North Carolina strikes out on every single one of these elite prospects, then it will officially be time to panic. However, all it will take is one or two commitments to turn around the momentum. After all, it’s only October and the season hasn’t even started yet. 

There will be 5-star prospects who commit to North Carolina in the 2015 and 2016 classes. We just don’t know which ones yet.

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