Wednesday's Leftovers: North Carolina, UCLA, Hunter Dickinson
Another large mailbag is on the docket for this week’s Wednesday’s Leftovers, and in it, we evaluate North Carolina’s chances with its top targets, ACC programs that should succeed this fall, who UCLA could land next and more.
TWITTER TUESDAY: Kentucky's class, Dawson Garcia and more
2020 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position
2021 Rankings: Rivals150
It's possible that North Carolina could come in second for most of its top targets (again) this fall, but the chances of that are remote. I don’t see the Tar Heels landing Bryce Thompson, R.J. Davis, D.J. Steward or Jaden Springer, but I also think that they are in a very, very good spot with Caleb Love. Also, do not underestimate North Carolina's chances with Cade Cunningham. Some might think that I am crazy for saying the Tar Heels have a shot since his brother is on staff at Oklahoma State, but if any program can do it, North Carolina could be the one that defeats the Cowboys for the nation’s top-ranked guard.
Arizona is going to be difficult to beat for Puff Johnson, and Dawson Garcia is a total guessing game right now but fans should definitely keep a close eye on Isaiah Todd, Greg Brown and Earl Timberlake. Todd and Brown will definitely not decide until the spring, while Timberlake, like Garcia, is a total toss-up. Hunter Dickinson will visit campus but the Tar Heels still have some work to do there.
North Carolina could completely strike out or the program could finish with a class consisting of Cunningham, Love, Ziaire Williams, Brown and Day’Ron Sharpe. It is boom or bust time in Chapel Hill.
Great question. We could go the safe route and say Virginia. The Cavaliers do sit within a top-five class thanks to the commitments of three Rivals150 prospects. They did just have another scholarship open and could add another, but if we are living on the edge, give me Louisville. The Cards have invested a whole bunch into the recruitments of a number of top-50 prospects and are due to celebrate a handful of commitments in the coming months.
Just this past week, Josh Hall, Devin Askew and Zach Loveday took an official visit to Louisville, and the Cardinals have also scheduled visit dates with Nimari Burnett, Deivon Smith, Jaemyn Brakefield, Caleb Love, D.J. Steward. They just will not miss on them all. I would not be surprised if the Cards put together a class that finishes the 2020 cycle ranked third in the ACC behind North Carolina and Duke.
Josh Christopher. The Bruins have picked up some traction with the local standout and while Kentucky, Arizona State, Missouri and Michigan will be difficult to beat, UCLA should not be counted out. The scoring of Christopher alongside the passing prowess of Daishen Nix would be something to behold. Don’t underestimate the Bruins' chances with Mark Williams, either. The 7-footer will take an official visit to Duke on Nov. 10 and while the Blue Devils will still likely end up with the talented big man, if there is a program out there that can pull him away from Coach K’s bunch, it is UCLA.
That is a really, really difficult guess. I would have said Notre Dame this time last year and Purdue two months ago, but the longer things go, the more wide-open Hunter Dickinson's recruitment seems.
He has already visited both Notre Dame and Purdue along with Louisville, and while North Carolina could still earn his commitment, I have a hard time seeing him in Chapel Hill alongside already committed big man Day’Ron Sharpe. Florida State, Michigan and Providence are the wild cards in Dickinson's recruitment. There are a lot of questions as to what system Juwan Howard will run with the Wolverines, which is not a question being asked at Florida State or Providence.
I am going to wiggle my way out of this question because I don’t even think Dickinson knows where he wants to go but I will say, don’t underestimate the Seminoles, Wolverines or Friars.
Right now, we know that Cliff Omoruyi will take an official visit to Auburn on the weekend of Sept. 13 and that he just returned from an unofficial visit to Pitt. He is going to attempt to take unofficial visits to the local programs and use his official visits on the programs that are further away from his New Jersey home.
Omoruyi has yet to finalize his school list, but I would expect for him to check out Maryland, Seton Hall and UConn before coming to a decision. I would also keep an eye on Kentucky and Memphis. The Tigers have begun to cultivate a strong relationship with him and could be the next big program to offer. A timeline towards a decision remains undecided, though, but do expect for this fall to be a busy one for Omoruyi.