UNC Basketball Recruiting: Sales Pitches for Top 2016 Targets

With all of its history, the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team will always be in the running to sign the top high school basketball players in the nation. The question is whether the program can actually land the biggest names for 2016.

As soon as a scholarship offer is made, the coaching staff goes to work to convince players to sign letters of intent. For the Tar Heels, you can make a variety of sales pitches—like discussing past success, including two national championships with current coach Roy Williams. Or you can talk about the high number of players sent to the NBA.

While potential future sanctions could slow down the recruiting trail, many elite prospects in the 2016 recruiting class are still considering North Carolina as a destination.

Of course, each player is different and has a unique view in finding a college. The best sales pitches are the ones designed specifically for the targeted players.

The upcoming class features a number of high-priority recruits North Carolina should be looking to bring aboard. Although big names like Justin Jackson, Jayson Tatum and Malik Monk are likely long shots, there is enough depth to create an excellent class.

With this in mind, here is a look at the Tar Heels' most important targets for 2016, with the best pitch for each.

Harry Giles, PF

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Sales Pitch: Flourish in Perfect System 

While there will always be debates about recruits, Harry Giles is rated No. 1 in the nation in 247Sports' latest composite rankings. Obviously, this is a player Roy Williams will want on his roster.

Giles is a tremendous athlete with the ability to throw down thunderous dunks. He can also create looks for himself by slashing to the rim past slower defenders.

In order to succeed with this skill set, however, he needs the space. This space will be available in the fast-paced offense that North Carolina runs.

According to KenPom.com, the Tar Heels ranked 15th in the nation in adjusted tempo last year and haven't been below 30th in this category since Williams came aboard in 2004. This will create fast-break opportunities and likely a lot of highlight-reel plays for Giles.

Even though the North Carolina native has the talent to succeed just about anywhere, UNC is where he could do significant damage early in his career.

Dennis Smith, PG

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Sales Pitch: Follow Recent UNC Point Guards

Like Giles, Dennis Smith is from North Carolina and will heavily consider local schools like Duke and North Carolina State as well as the Tar Heels. However, none of them has had a point guard like Smith recently.

With his quickness and physicality in the lane, despite being undersized (6'1"), the guard resembles a more athletic version of Ty Lawson. Meanwhile, Kendall Marshall, Ray Felton and Marcus Paige have also shown the ability to be elite college players in this system.

Williams has proved that he can get the most out of his point guards and send them to the next level as first-round NBA draft picks.

Smith has that type of talent and could have a lot of success by staying close to home. 

Kobi Simmons, PG

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Sales Pitch: Be a Go-To Scorer on an Elite Team

While he can play either guard position at the next level, Kobi Simmons is a combo guard who is at his best when he has the ball in his hands and is looking to score. He has the quickness to get into the lane, and at 6'5", he can score over smaller defenders.

This would be a perfect addition for North Carolina. By the time Simmons would be on campus, Paige will be gone, and Justin Jackson could be as well. The Tar Heels will need someone capable of creating his own shot.

Simmons would get a lot of scoring chances right out of the gate on a team that should still be among the best in the nation. If he wants to impress NBA scouts or put up big numbers, this would be a great way to do so.

Edrice Adebayo, PF

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Sales Pitch: Have the Opportunity to Run the Floor

Few college basketball forwards have the tools to score consistently with their backs to the basket. While Edrice "Bam" Adebayo has improved his own low-post game, he is still likely to get most of his points early on with putbacks and open dunks from running the floor.

This is how North Carolina operates, as the squad goes from defense to offense as quickly as anyone in the nation.

Adebayo is quick for his size (6'9") and would be a perfect option to replace Brice Johnson, especially if Giles goes elsewhere. Adding in the forward's impressive work as a rim protector, he could have a role early with this team.

Tony Bradley, PF

Photo Credit: 247Sports

Sales Pitch: Take Time to Develop

Most high school prospects want to be stars as soon as they step onto a college campus, but some players need time away from the spotlight first. While Tony Bradley has plenty of upside, he is raw in his technique and could use a year or two before being thrust into the starting lineup.

North Carolina will likely have plenty of low-post options already on the roster between Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks and Luke Maye, not to mention any other big men who decide to commit to the 2016 class. Bradley can still get playing time, but he won't have the pressure to succeed right away.

If he goes to a smaller program with fewer established players, the forward could end up struggling and losing confidence.

After seeing other top forwards like Tyler Zeller or John Henson develop over a few years in Chapel Hill before moving on to the NBA, Bradley should have the confidence to follow in their footsteps.

Seventh Woods, PG

Sales Pitch: Turn Athleticism into Production

North Carolina has had some incredible athletes in recent years, between top prospects like Harrison Barnes and developmental players like J.P. Tokoto. Seventh Woods might blow them all away.

Woods showcased his dunking ability when he was just 14 years old in a video that topped 13 million hits on YouTube. The athleticism is there, although he hasn't developed the rest of his game as much as scouts would have liked to see.

On the plus side, Chapel Hill has become a place where these types of players have thrived while rounding out their games. Barnes needed two years in college, but he became a versatile scorer and is now a key contributor on the Golden State Warriors. Tokoto still struggles as a shooter but used his athleticism to become an elite defender while also filling up the stat sheet in various ways.

Woods will get his opportunities to dunk, but he can also become a better overall player at North Carolina.

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