News » North Carolina is in a position where it could start

North Carolina has long been recognized as an elite, blue blood program when it comes to college basketball. But it hasn t really taken the route other top flight schools have in recent years. That could be about to change though, as the Tar Heels are starting to land talented young recruits that could change their image.

Roy Williams has coached North Carolina for 16 years and won three national championships, but only five one and done players have left for the NBA under his watch. Despite being a major attraction https://www.northcarolinatarheelszone.com/nate-britt-jersey-c-1.html, the Tar Heels just haven t had the kind of young talent that makes league scouts drool from the start like their competition at Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA and others. They ve definitely produced pros, but usually only after they ve developed for a few years. But even then, those prospects aren t usually lottery picks.


Thursday, Coby White and Nassir Little became the fourth and fifth players to successfully enter the NBA after one collegiate season under Williams at UNC. They joined Marvin Williams 2005 , Brandan Wright 2007 and Tony Bradley 2017 . Little is unique in that he was a top five recruit something North Carolina has only had four of in the last decade, according to 247Sports. The other three were John Henson No. 5 , Harrison Barnes No. 1 and Cole Anthony No. 4 , who is the top ranked point guard in the class of 2019.

All the players just mentioned were first round draft picks in their respective classes, and while North Carolina s recent academic scandal has impacted recruitment https://www.northcarolinatarheelszone.com/theo-pinson-jersey-c-2.html, it appears like the Tar Heels are bouncing back.

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Little was expected to be one and done from the moment he stepped on campus and remained in draft conversations despite his inability to crack the starting lineup during his freshman year. He slid to the Trail Blazers at No. 25 in this year s draft though, but White s rise to prominence and being picked No. 7 pick was a surprise, as he rose to five star status later than most and was ranked 25th in 2018.

People will be watching Anthony very closely this season, as he s expected to be considered among the best point guards in the country and could possibly be a top five pick in 2020. The 6 3 guard s explosiveness is rivaled by few and and his performance might inspire more players looking to have a short stint with one of college basketball s most storied programs before making a jump to the NBA.

You know I m a guy that always thinks the glass is half full and I think college basketball has been great Michael Jordan Jersey, Williams said when addressing the one and done rule on 99.9 The Fan last September. I thought when the kids could go straight out of high school it was okay. With the one and done, I think it s been great and I think it s been an NBA rule, it s better for them.


They do not make as many mistakes and in fact, I m sure they d rather have the kids go two years. If you watch 6 foot 10 against 6 foot 10 rather than go to a high school game and watch 6 10 against 6 2... but the fact of the matter is there is no rule that s perfect. You ve got guys like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant that did not make mistakes. Some other guys did make mistakes, but there s no perfect rule so I don t get too upset about anything.

North Carolina is in a position where it could start to poach the cream of the crop, and an influx of top recruits could bring about more youthful Tar Heel basketball https://www.northcarolinatarheelszone.com/joel-berry-ii-jersey-c-3.html, unlike what we ve seen from the seasoned veterans they ve come to know and love.