Forward Alex Stepheson gave a verbal commitment Tuesday to play basketball at North Carolina, a decision that solidifies Roy Williams' 2006 recruiting class as one of the best in the country.
Stepheson, who is ranked as the No. 58 prospect in the nation by Scout.com, will provide frontcourt depth when he arrives in 2006-07 and is another piece in an increasingly impressive puzzle.
"He is an excellent complementary post player to what they already have," said Dave Telep, national recruiting director for Scout.com. "He has a big, strong, athletic body."
Stepheson followed in the footsteps of fellow Californian Deon Thompson, who committed to North Carolina last week. Thompson is ranked as the No. 22 recruit in the country, and Telep said he and current freshman Tyler Hansbrough should be the foundation of UNC's post game next year.
The addition of the 6-foot-9 post player lessens the blow somewhat for Roy Williams' staff of the loss of blue-chip center Spencer Hawes, who recently picked Washington instead of UNC. The seven-footer is ranked No. 3 in the nation.
"I don't think you ever forget about missing out on Spencer Hawes," Telep said. "Because he's good enough to carry a team to a national championship."
But even without Hawes, Telep ranked UNC's class second in the nation behind Ohio State, based mostly on its all-world backcourt commitments.
Future Tar Heels Wayne Ellington, a shooting guard, and Tywon Lawson, a point guard from Virginia basketball factory Oak Hill, are considered to be the best prospects at their respective positions, which usually would mean they are NBA-bound.
But thanks to a new ruling that says players cannot enter the NBA Draft until a year after their high school class has graduated, Lawson and Ellington must spend at least a year in Chapel Hill - unlike former UNC signee J.R. Smith.
