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UNC Basketball Loses Another Major Recruiting Battle to Blueblood

The UNC basketball coaches have not celebrated a recruiting win in about 20 months.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis
UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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The 2025 UNC basketball recruiting class remains empty following Overtime Elite (Ga.) five-star guard Jasper Johnson's announcement on Thursday afternoon.

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Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound silky southpaw who ranks No. 10 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, committed to recruiting juggernaut Kentucky. The Lexington, Ky., native chose the Wildcats over the Tar Heels and three other finalists: Alabama, Louisville, and Arkansas.

He had been at or near the top of the UNC basketball wishlist since receiving an offer out of Chapel Hill last September. In addition to checking out the Tar Heels on an official visit in early February, coinciding with their home win over archrival Duke in the Dean E. Smith Center, Jasper Johnson returned for an unofficial visit the last weekend of June.

Although fourth-year head coach Hubert Davis and his Tar Heels have picked up several quality additions from the transfer portal this year, they haven't prevailed in a recruiting race since Ian Jackson, now gearing up for his freshman campaign, capped off the program's 2024 class via his pledge of allegiance in January 2023.

There is still plenty of time, though, for Davis & Co. to piece together a formidable haul in the 2025 arena.

Only four of the top 50 prospects in the cycle have announced their decisions. However, now two of those prizes belong to the Wildcats, as Great Crossing High School (Ky.) four-star center Malachi Moreno committed to first-year Kentucky head coach Mark Pope over UNC and others three weeks ago.

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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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