All Tar Heels

Five-Star Prep on UNC Basketball: 'My Dream School Growing Up'

UNC basketball sure seems to be a top contender for top-shelf 2025 guard Isiah Harwell.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Wasatch Academy (Utah) junior Isiah Harwell has said it before. And he said it again in a recent chat with Rivals' Rob Cassidy, referring to the UNC basketball program as his childhood favorite.

"That's been my dream school growing up," Harwell, who was in Chapel Hill last year for the first unofficial visit in his recruitment, reiterated to Cassidy. "And the visit was amazing. Just being able to sit down and have a conversation with Hubert Davis and all the coaching staff was cool."

Harwell, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound five-star who sits at No. 7 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, sounds impressed by the 2023-24 Tar Heels (7-1, 1-0 ACC), now the highest-ranked ACC squad at No. 9 in Monday's updated AP Top 25 Poll.

"They're playing good team basketball," Harwell, who hails from Idaho, noted to Cassidy. "[Freshman guard Elliot Cadeau] is moving the thing around and getting everyone involved. I like that."

He landed a UNC basketball offer around the time of his visit roughly 15 months ago. In late October this year, Isiah Harwell included the Tar Heels among his nine finalists. The other eight are Alabama, Baylor, Cal, Gonzaga, Houston, Idaho State, Texas, and UCLA.

Cassidy opined that "Gonzaga and North Carolina feel like the clear frontrunners." However, Harwell has no timeline for a decision. He has scheduled an official visit to Gonzaga for early February and is "finalizing" a trip to Cal.

Meanwhile, all eight of the other 2025 recruits on Hubert Davis' wishlist are also five-star prospects ranking among the top 20 in the class: forward Cameron Boozer, forward Koa Peat, forward AJ Dybantsa, forward Bryson Tiller, forward Caleb Wilson, guard Jasper Johnson, guard Darryn Peterson, and guard Cayden Boozer.

Teammate of UNC Signee Plans to Visit Tar Heels

Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI.com for more UNC basketball recruiting news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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