UNC Basketball: 5 Early Storylines from Tar Heels' 2017 Recruiting Trail

The 2017 recruiting class is a big one for North Carolina, which will have to replace a lot of talent likely departing at the end of this season.

Not only are Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks and Nate Britt set to graduate, players like Justin Jackson, Theo Pinson and Joel Berry are also possibilities to leave early for the NBA. As good as the Tar Heels could be in 2016-17, the following year could be tough if the coaching staff doesn't bring in top prospects to replace them.

So far, the only commitment is point guard Jalek Felton, but UNC is targeting a handful of quality players and hoping to learn decisions in the near future.

While there is a lot to keep track of on the recruiting trail, here are the biggest storylines to follow in the coming months.

Weak Local Class

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Brandon Ingram

North Carolina is usually a recruiting hot bed with tons of high-quality prospects right in the Tar Heels' backyard. In the past couple of years, Brandon Ingram, Dennis Smith and Bam Adebayo played their high school ball in this state, although none of them have chosen to play for UNC.

The Tar Heels brought in Luke Maye last season from Cornelius, North Carolina, although the last big prospect from the state was probably Theo Pinson from High Point, North Carolina.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much of a pool to choose from in the 2017 class. Tyshon Alexander is a decent prospect headed to Creighton, while Lavar Batts has earned interest from a few ACC schools, but no one is a real difference-maker in this group.

While Duke and UNC will still have plenty of head-to-head battles in this cycle and plenty of others in the future, it won't be for the hometown players.

Need to Add a Big

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Mohamed Bamba

North Carolina heads into next season with four frontcourt players, including two seniors. This leaves just Tony Bradley and Luke Maye returning for the 2017-18 season.

Needless to say, finding big men who can make an impact right away is a major priority for the 2017 recruiting class.

Two of the bigger targets are Mohamed Bamba and Wendell Carter. Both are extremely talented players who not only know how to score inside, but they also play elite post defense and can make everyone around them better. Bamba and Carter both have offers from UNC, but as good as they are, signing them might prove to be difficult.

There are a handful of backup options as well, though, including P.J. Washington and Jeremiah Tilmon. In any case, the coaching staff better figure out a way to lock up someone who can play in the post.

Race for Kevin Knox

If North Carolina is going to sign one blue-chip recruit during this cycle, Kevin Knox appears to be the best bet.

The small forward is considering UNC, Duke, Florida State, Kentucky and others, likely making it a tough pull. Of course, that's what you would expect for the No. 6 overall player in the class, per 247Sports.

If the 6'8" player does end up in Chapel Hill, he could be a go-to option right out of the gate. He is a gifted athlete who can run the floor and attack the basket while also possessing the ability to make shots from the outside. His skill set would fit perfectly with the Tar Heels' fast-paced style of play.

This has apparently been a major draw for Knox during recruiting.

"I like to play fast break, transition," Knox told Sean Moran of Scout.com. "A lot of schools tell me they like to run the fast break, but UNC really does have a lot of fast-break points, so that’s something Coach Roy has gotten in my head."

It won't be easy to beat Duke or Kentucky in this race, but Knox would be worth it.

Finding Sleepers

Scouting high school players is never easy. There are 5-star players who are busts and little-known prospects who turn out to be stars.

While UNC is always going to target the highest-ranked players, the coaching staff also has an eye on some options who might be a bit underrated at the moment.

One of those prospects is Andrew Platek, currently considered No. 179 overall in the class by 247Sports. Despite the low ranking, the Tar Heels are fully confident in the shooting guard's ability by offering him a scholarship and providing a full visit.

Platek explained his excitement after seeing the campus, per Ross Martin of 247Sports:

"

I am looking for the best combination of academics and basketball. I go to one of the best academic prep schools in the country and that is a big value of my family. They take (academics) very seriously and I do as well. UNC is a great academic school for sure and that is one of the things I look at. But it is also the highest level of basketball there is which is what I have always wanted to do. So it would be a great situation for me there.

"

Besides Platek, North Carolina has also shown interest in players like Nate Watson, Blake Harris and others with at least some scouting and visits. While they might not excite the fanbase, these types of players could be interesting additions.

Building Around Jalek Felton

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Jalek Felton can't sign a letter of intent until next season, which technically still means he can choose to go anywhere he wants. Still, Raymond Felton's nephew appears to be a safe bet to stay with the program.

This should be a huge boost because adding a point guard is often one of the biggest keys to a recruiting class. Other players know there will be someone on the team who can create openings and get them the ball in a position to score.

It is usually an even better situation when a player commits as early as Felton did, because other recruits know exactly what they are getting into at the next level.

Unfortunately, this hasn't led to any additional commits just yet with most of the top players in the class still undecided. However, Felton still has to be instrumental in the recruitment of other prospects, showing he can help make Chapel Hill a great destination. If he can do this, the 2017 class could end up being one of the best in years.

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