UNC Basketball Recruiting: Biggest Competition for Top 2016 Targets

North Carolina basketball has its sights on signing some of the best recruits in the 2016 class. The problem is each top prospect has plenty of other suitors around the nation.

While the Tar Heels have a lot of different pitches available at their disposal—program history, a high amount of current NBA stars and a great outlook for the upcoming season—these high school players have so many options when it comes to choosing a future team. Even those who are favored to land in Chapel Hill could end up going in another direction.

Although each of these players are likely to take some more time before officially committing to a school, here is a look at North Carolina's top prospects at this stage and the biggest competition for each player's services.

Seventh Woods, PG

Biggest Competition: South Carolina

One of the most athletic players in the class, Seventh Woods has enormous upside that he is still realizing as he rounds out his game. He already has the skills to be a big-time scorer who can get into the lane almost whenever he wants, but at 6'1", he might need to learn how to be a better point guard in order to be successful at the next level.

North Carolina would love to add him to the upcoming recruiting class and watch him grow in Chapel Hill. But the Tar Heels will still have to fight off challenges from a number of other schools, including Georgetown, Florida and South Carolina.

The last school on this list might end up being the toughest to beat. As he recently explained to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv, "That’s my home state, so I feel like I owe them something, so USC is always on my list."

If the South Carolina native stays loyal, the Tar Heels might not be able to pry him away.

Kobi Simmons, PG

Biggest Competition: Kentucky

The good news for North Carolina is it made the list of six schools Kobi Simmons is still considering, according to Reggie Rankin of ESPN. This could represent one of the top additions in the class as an elite backcourt scorer with the ability to contribute immediately.

However, it will not be easy beating Kentucky for this commitment. Head coach John Calipari has a knack for bringing in the top guards in every class, most recently Isaiah Briscoe and Jamal Murray, and he has his eyes on Simmons to replace those players if they leave early for the NBA draft.

Dan Bodner of Kentucky Sports Connection recently speculated Simmons was one of the 2016 recruits most likely to end up in Lexington.

With Arizona also looming large, it will be hard to get this guard to UNC.

Dennis Smith, PG

Biggest Competition: North Carolina State

A betting man would be smart to put his money on the fact Dennis Smith ends up playing his college basketball in the state of North Carolina. He recently narrowed his list to six schools, four of them being from the same state.

While UNC, Duke and Wake Forest each have their merits, North Carolina State seems to have a slight edge thanks to its long-term relationship with the point guard.

"They were the first real big program that offered me a scholarship, and that means a lot because they noticed my talent when nobody else did," Smith said of the Wolfpack, via ESPN's Paul Biancardi.

As one of the best true point guards in this class, Smith could heavily change the outlook of the ACC based on where he commits. This makes him one of the most important targets in the entire class for Roy Williams.

Tony Bradley, PF

Biggest Competition: Indiana

The Tar Heels will be desperate to reload in the frontcourt after likely losses of a number of key players. This is what makes Tony Bradley such an important recruit in this cycle.

With the power forward turning more heads every day, like 247Sports' Jerry Meyer's, North Carolina wants to lock down a commitment as soon as possible. That might not be too difficult considering all 13 predictions on 247Sports have Bradley going to UNC.

That said, nothing is guaranteed in the world of college recruitment, and everything can change in a heartbeat.

One school that could stand out is Indiana, which recently joined the list of offered schools. Like UNC, the Hoosiers are expected to have one of the top teams in the nation next season and could become extremely appealing for a fast-rising player like Bradley.

Edrice Adebayo, PF

Biggest Competition: Kentucky

One of the many elite North Carolina natives in this class, Edrice "Bam Bam" Adebayo is quickly solidifying himself as one of the top big men in the nation. He runs the floor well, has an improving offensive arsenal and already is a high-level shot-blocker on defense.

While this scouting report has led to plenty of scholarship offers, it might be a team that hasn't offered yet that provides the toughest competition for UNC. According to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv, Calipari recently watched Adebayo play, and the forward has taken notice.

"Their fanbase is incredible,” he said of Kentucky. “I like the way they play, fast, they go through their bigs. They just play hard basketball."

It doesn't seem like he is close to making a final decision, which fares well for the Wildcats, who are late to join the party. Still, North Carolina should stay hard on this trail as long as possible.

Harry Giles, PF

Biggest Competition: Duke

Harry Giles will be the biggest prize for any recruiting class, currently ranked No. 1 in the nation by 247Sports' composite rankings.

North Carolina certainly has a good chance to keep the local player home, showcasing its program's history and opening for early playing time. Unfortunately, Duke can offer the same qualities plus a potentially better future outlook.

With the addition of big-time scorer Jayson Tatum, the Blue Devils can pair two top prospects who have become good friends over the past few years. When Luke Winn of Sports Illustrated asked Giles if he considered teaming up with Tatum at the next level, he responded, "Honestly, yes. It's most definitely what we talk about."

Although this duo isn't exactly a package deal, the two top players are very close and could create a scary Blue Devils squad for the 2016-17 season. North Carolina will have to push harder to keep Giles from choosing its biggest rival.

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