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UNC Basketball Recruiting: Picks Stack Up in High-Profile Race

Any momentum the UNC basketball coaches enjoyed in the Jasper Johnson sweepstakes appears to be gone forever.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball recruiting target Jasper Johnson
UNC basketball recruiting target Jasper Johnson / Katie Goodale / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Overtime Elite (Ga.) sharpshooting guard Jasper Johnson grew up in Kentucky. But he did so as an admirer of the Tar Heels. Plus, the five-star senior, who received an offer from Hubert Davis around this time last year, visited the UNC basketball program twice in his recruitment.

ALSO READ: Father of Top UNC Target Claims Finalists Have Clean Slate

And until the first 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction popped up this week — ahead of Johnson's anticipated announcement one day next week — most insiders hadn't ruled out the possibility of the Tar Heels prevailing for the 6-foot-4, 175-pound speedster.

Now, though, it'd come as quite a shock if Johnson ends up anywhere other than Kentucky.

Between the 247Sports Crystal Ball, Rivals FutureCast, and On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, there are six predictions, all pointing to Mark Pope's Wildcats coming out on top. Five of those picks have surfaced in the past few days alone, including the one from arguably the premier expert when it comes to Kentucky recruiting efforts in 247Sports national recruiting insider Travis Branham.

Throughout the summer, folks went back and forth between UNC, Kentucky, and Alabama as the presumed leader for Jasper Johnson.

Prior to the drastic shift in the Wildcats' favor, the Crimson Tide looked like the team to beat. Even Branham expressed as much.

As for Hubert Davis and his blueblood UNC basketball recruiting team, one could say that they've been the most consistent in terms of sitting in the perceived second-place position.

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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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