Carolina Doesn't Rebuild, It Reloads

In just 4 seasons at North Carolina, Roy Williams has received commitments from 8 five-star players and 9 four-star players. 

After winning the championship in 2005, the Tar Heels brought in Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Marcus Ginyard, and Bobby Frasor. In the next summer of 2006 Ol' Roy lured Ty Lawson, Brandan Wright, Wayne Ellington, and Deon Thompson. Will Graves and Alex Stepheson were also included with that class and despite not having the success of their classmates, they still contributed the program. Graves has seen little minutes and was suspended by Roy Williams because he "did not maintain the standards we expect of a Carolina basketball player." Also seeing few minutes was Stepheson, who transfered to USC after his sophmore season citing family illness, but he still was looking at Hansbrough and Thompson ahead of him on the depth chart. 

With only one scholarship open for the star-studded Class of 2007 (Rose, Mayo, Beasley, Eric Gordon, and many more), the only player the Tar Heels attempted to lure was Kevin Love, likely in fear of losing Hansbrough that summer. Love was down to UCLA and UNC, but chose UCLA probably because he wanted to be closer to his family in Oregon. The Class of 2008 had some fans worried with UNC getting Ed Davis, Tyler Zeller, and Larry Drew II. Neither of the three was the top player at their position and Davis was slipping a little in the rankings as his freshman season neared. That meant little as Davis was a key figure for the Tar Heels in their 2009 Championship run and will likely be a top 5 pick in the NBA Draft one day. The latter two will play a bigger role this year as Zeller played and missed time with a broken wrist last season. Drew was shaky last season but will compete for the starting PG spot this year.

Another packed class will arrive this year as Williams' group is ranked in the top 3 by many recruiting websites and experts. The Class of 2009 is headlined by John Henson, listed as the number 1 PF and a top 5 player in his class. With a likely front line of Davis and Thompson, Williams is flirting with the idea of putting the 6'10 200 pound Henson at SF. The big men do not stop there as North Carolina will have a pair of twins at its disposal next year with the Wear Twins. David and Travis are 6'9 and weigh around 225. Both are very skilled fundamentally and can play on the outside and inside.  Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland can both play the two guard with the latter being able to play PG in a pinch. Both are athletic and Strickland is great in transition. McDonald is listed at 6'4 195. He is a smooth player and very team oriented. He was not a McDonald's All American, but did play for the USA in the Nike Hoop Summit.

That was the past and Roy Williams already is on a good path. Thus far, the Class of 2010 includes two 5 star players. Kendall Marshall is a 6'3 pass first point guard. He is one of the best passers in his class and has an uncanny ability to create for his teammates. Marshall is currently listed as the number 5 PG in the Class of 2010. Reggie Bullock is a 6'6 winger who can flat out score. He has tremendous upside and already is the number 2 SG in his class.

Roy Williams is a non-stop recruiter and received his first commitment of 2011 yesterday. P.J. Hairston was offered a scholarship Sunday and accepted the next night. Hairston is currently listed as a four-star, but his stock is quickly rising and senior year ratings are typically more accurate.He is a tank at 6'5 215. Like Bullock, he can flat out score. The two of them actually squared off in North Carolina's 3A Regional Semi-Final. Here is a video of the two of them putting on a show with Williams in attendance. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfHhPbt05f4) Imagine those two on the same team.

Roy is constantly on the recruiting trail and will likely search for another big man even though his class two years earlier has Henson and the Wear Twins not to mention Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller will only be juniors by 2011. By 2011, Ed Davis, John Henson, and Tyler Zeller could all be playing in the NBA and Williams will have to reload with more big men. James McAdoo is a 6'9 junior and could be Carolina's big man for that class. He just received a scholarship offer on June 24 and could be lured to Carolina by his good friend Kendall Marshall with whom he plays AAU.

A major reason why he is so relentless when it comes to recruiting is because he recruits and produces players who end up at the next level. This list includes players he recruited while coaching at North Carolina: Brandan Wright left after his freshman year and was drafted at number 9. Hansbrough was picked at 13. Lawson went 18 overall and Ellington was picked at 28. Danny Green was picked in the second round. Ginyard should get picked in the second round barring injury. That is four players in the first round and that doesnt even include Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton, Sean May, and Rashad McCants who were all lottery picks after defeating Illinois in the 2005 championship. They were regarded as Matt Doherty's recruits and benefited from Williams arrival at Chapel Hill.

The championship in 2005. Four years later another one in 2009. Fans of different teams would be happy to win two championships in a four year span; Carolina fans may not settle for just one championship every four years with the way Roy is reloading the Tar Heels when 2013 comes around.

*Ratings from Scout.com