North Carolina basketball recruiting: Tar Heels can’t miss on this 5-star recruit in 2021
The North Carolina basketball recruiting class needs this five-star recruit.
Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tar Heels had the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class for the 2020 cycle, headlined by a trio of five-star recruits.
The 2021 cycle likely won’t finish that high because it won’t have six signees like the 2020 class, but there is one five-star recruit the North Carolina basketball recruiting efforts should be locked in on.
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The 2021 recruiting class for UNC is ranked No. 25, according to the 247Sports Team Rankings, based on the sole commit from four-star power forward Dontrez Styles from Kingston, North Carolina.
Of course, he won’t be the only one to be a part of the North Carolina basketball recruiting class, but Williams and the Tar Heels will have to be selective with their offers as space could be limited in the upcoming class.
That’s why it’s imperative to come away with a five-star recruit that can come in right away as a freshman and help lead the Tar Heels back to the Final Four where they can compete for another national championship banner to bring back to Chapel Hill.
No. 2 recruit Chet Holmgren, No. 16 recruit Trevor Keels and No. 19 recruit Hunter Sallis are all five-star recruits with offers from UNC and the Tar Heels would welcome them to Chapel Hill with a red-carpet-welcome.
However, the five-star recruit with the best odds of picking North Carolina and therefore is the one they can’t let get away is No. 21 overall recruit, Efton Reid.
Efton Reid is on the North Carolina basketball recruiting class wish list.
After signing five-star center Armando Bacot this year, Reid could potentially make a seamless transition to his spot in the lineup assuming he is a one-and-done player who opts to declare for the NBA Draft after a season with the Tar Heels.
Even if Bacot is still around, Reid may not be shying away from the opportunity to play for one of the best programs in the nation and have a chance at a national title.
Ranked as the No. 4 center by the 247Sports Composite Rankings, the 6-foot-11, 225-pounder from Richmond, Virginia has a host of ACC offers, including Louisville, Virginia, NC State and Florida State in addition to the offer he holds from UNC.
While Reid has NBA size already ahead of his senior season in high school, he needs to improve his athleticism and overall quickness. He’s got good hands and is a capable rebounder with a shot that can stretch opposing defenses, but he’s not a power center who’s going to be blocking shots in the paint. He has the frame and the capacity to improve in these areas over the next year before he enters college.
If North Carolina can steal Reid from Virginia and the other ACC foes, it could swing the balance of power in the conference in 2021.
Next. Recruiting predictions for every 5-star 2021 recruit. dark
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