All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball: Three Five-Star Preps Watch Tar Heels Deflate NC State

A dual-sport recruit attended UNC basketball's season-sweep win over rival NC State, and so did a pair of Tar Heel signees.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Scott Kinser-USA TODAY Sports
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Frequent Tar Heel visitor Kendre' Harrison is the No. 1 tight end in the 2026 class and holds a UNC football offer. But he also shines for Reidsville High School (N.C.) as a five-star forward on the hardwood. He's left the door open to playing both sports at the college level and has checked out the UNC basketball program a couple of times.

The 6-foot-7, 245-pound athletic phenom was on hand for the team's 85-64 home win over Wake Forest in late January. Harrison returned less than two weeks later, this time alongside several of the school's other football targets, for UNC's 93-84 victory over visiting archrival Duke on Feb. 3.

WATCH: Hefty UNC Recruiting Prospect Shatters Glass During Game

Then, on Saturday afternoon, he was back in the Dean E. Smith Center for a third time in six weeks, sitting next to his family and directly in front of his coach and UNC basketball legend Phil Ford. They witnessed the Tar Heels defeat rival NC State, 79-70, and improve to 3-0 this calendar year with Harrison in the building.

Thus far, Kendre' Harrison has reported over two dozen football suitors. His basketball offer sheet isn't as long; however, chances are UNC and others would be more than happy to entertain the idea of him being a dual-sport sensation at their school.

Meanwhile, two of the Tar Heels' three 2024 signees were also in attendance on Saturday. Of course, it wasn't the first visit this season by five-star forward Drake Powell, who stars for nearby Northwood High School (N.C.), or five-star guard and fellow McDonald's All-American in Our Saviour Lutheran (N.Y.) standout Ian Jackson.

Link Academy (Mo.) four-star center James Brown, the third UNC prize in head coach Hubert Davis' fourth recruiting haul (No. 7 in the country), was in Chapel Hill for an official visit alongside Powell in October. That was a few weeks before they and Jackson inked their national letter of intent during the early signing period.

NEXT UNC BASKETBALL GAME: No. 9 Tar Heels (23-6, 15-3 ACC) at home versus unranked Notre Dame (12-17, 7-11 ACC), 7 p.m. ET Tuesday (ACCN)

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UNC Forward: No Wolfpack Player Was 'Suited to Guard Me'

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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