UNC Basketball Recruiting: Top Targets in 2015 Early Signing Period

The North Carolina Tar Heels are already off to a good start for their 2016 recruiting class, but they will need to keep adding top talent if they want to keep pace in the ACC.

After getting commitments from forward Tony Bradley and, most recently, according to ESPN.com's Jeff Borzello, 4-star guard Brandon Robinson, UNC now has the No. 10 recruiting class in the nation, according to 247Sports. 

ESPN's Paul Biancardi had high praise for the latest addition, explaining on Twitter, "Espn #61 Brandon Robinson is a #TarHeel. Brings size, and length that can make shots. He & Tony Bradley are two excellent prospects for UNC."

Still, this is an important class for North Carolina with a number of talented players from the 2015-16 team expected to leave after this season, either because of graduation or dreams of the NBA. The coaching staff will have to keep adding top talent, especially with Duke (No. 1), Florida State (No. 3), Virginia (No. 5) and Syracuse (No. 8) all ranked above UNC in the latest 2016 class rankings.

The good news is there are plenty of potential targets who could help the class continue to climb the rankings. Here is a look at the top prospects remaining for head coach Roy Williams and his staff.

PF Harry Giles

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Height, weight: 6'10", 210 lbs

Ranking: 1st

Schools considering: Duke, Kentucky, Wake Forest, Kansas

As the No. 1 player in the nation, Harry Giles should also be No. 1 on North Carolina's list of targets. The 6'10" forward has the chance to be a dominant force in the low post and can become an immediate go-to option at the college level.

With UNC losing Brice Johnson and possibly Kennedy Meeks next season, the Tar Heels would really benefit from having someone of this level of polish come in and produce right away.

The good news is while many are expecting a Duke lean, his coach at Oak Hill believes it's open. Steve Smith told Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv:

"

People think Duke is the leader, but I think from sitting in on parts of all of the visits, he told all the coaches he’s not sure when he’s going to sign and he’s told everybody that he’s wide open still. So he keeps it pretty close to the vest and he doesn’t say much.

I know they all want him to go early and I think he’s probably leaning to doing that but he could even extend it. Who knows?

"

Zagoria also noted Roy Williams had an in-home visit with Giles, and he will visit Chapel Hill in October, meaning the Tar Heels are still very much in play for the top prospect in the country.

PF Edrice Adebayo

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Height, weight: 6'9", 232 lbs

Ranking: 11th

Schools considering: Kentucky, Auburn, North Carolina State, Duke, Louisville, Wake Forest, Missouri

There are a lot of teams interested in Edrice "Bam" Adebayo—and deservedly so. The 6'9" forward is a good back-to-the-basket scorer who can also run the floor and get baskets on fast breaks. While the college game has moved away from big men who can score, Adebayo is someone who can average 15-20 points per game at this level.

Still, there seems to be a lot of debate about where he will eventual play his college ball.

One interesting factor could be if he decides to stay with a teammate. He played AAU on Team Loaded with North Carolina State commit Dennis Smith Jr. and UNC commit Brandon Robinson. There will likely be a lot of in-state competition for the local recruit, although pressure from outside schools such as Kentucky and Auburn won't go away.

As mentioned with Giles, adding a frontcourt piece who can help early is extremely important for this class, so the Tar Heels should do what it takes to lock down Adebayo.

PG Seventh Woods

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Height, weight: 6'1", 175 lbs

Ranking: 41st

Schools considering: South Carolina, Georgetown, Florida

Seventh Woods has been on North Carolina's radar for a long time, and now it has a chance to finally get him on board. The combo guard has tons of athleticism to score in the lane while also showcasing the ability to create his own looks.

Although he could still improve as a point guard, the fact he is still raw as a player could actually benefit this class. Ross Martin of 247Sports broke down the value of adding Woods to the current duo already committed to UNC:

"

Without getting ahead of ourselves, Bradley, Robinson and Woods are all likely three plus year college players. They all have a wealth of potential and will need growth and polish at the NCAA level. These guys are not immediate superstars or one-and-done players. They are program builders. This follows suit with Coach Williams' recruiting strategy the last few years. Recruit high character kids who will stay and contribute in the program while developing and growing to All-ACC level players as upperclassmen.

"

Thanks to an almost unbelievable leaping ability for his size, Woods might have the most upside of the entire group. No matter how long he stays in college, he could end up being a nice fit in Chapel Hill.

South Carolina seems like the toughest challenger for the Columbia native, but there is still a good chance he ends up at UNC.

SG Rawle Alkins

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Height, weight: 6'5", 210 lbs

Ranking: 15th

Schools considering: Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina State, UNLV, St. John's

Many high school players need time to adjust to the physicality of the college game and bulk up to handle the transition. That won't be the case for Rawle Alkins, who is already among the most physically imposing players in the nation.

The guard has plenty of quickness with the ball but uses his strength to set himself apart in the lane.

Alkins listed North Carolina among his top eight schools and recently transferred high schools from New York to Word of God in Raleigh, N.C. before making a visit to Chapel Hill. Although this high school move could benefit North Carolina State as well, the Tar Heels are still in the running.

With the program relatively set at point guard going forward, Alkins could be a good fit at either shooting guard or small forward.

PG De'Aaron Fox

Height, weight: 6'4", 170 lbs

Ranking: 3rd

Schools considering: Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, Louisville, LSU, North Carolina State

North Carolina has made a lot of final lists for top players, but while the team might be on the outside looking in for someone such as Malik Monk despite making his list, according to Scout.com's Evan Daniels, there is still a chance to bring in one of the top point guards in the class in De'Aaron Fox.

"They’re a powerhouse in the ACC," Fox said of North Carolina to ESPN's Jeff Borzello. "No matter what team Roy Williams had, he’s always been a contender. And the last four years, he’s had a left-handed point guard. That’s a factor. Some coaches don’t know how to coach a left-handed point guard."

This might be an unusual factor in picking a school, but Fox is detailed in his decision-making process. UNC only recently offered a scholarship, according to Daniels, although the late start doesn't seem to have hurt the program in this race.

With a combination of outstanding size, ball-handling ability and vision, Fox will likely be in and out of college before moving on to the NBA. This could set the team up nicely with Jalek Felton entering the program in 2017.

Recruit rankings and info courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted. 

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