This past Saturday, the UNC men’s basketball team got its first commitment from the class of 2021 in Dontrez Styles. Styles, a 6-foot-6 forward from Kinston and the No. 1 recruit in the state of North Carolina for 2021, will join a team that is bringing in the No. 3 recruiting class for 2020.
While it’s hard to predict what the team will look like when Styles arrives, here are some players from the class of 2021 who are on North Carolina's radar.
Kennedy Chandler
Chandler is a 6-foot-1 point guard from Memphis, Tennessee, and the No. 15 overall recruit in the country, according to 247Sports. Despite his height and only weighing 160 pounds, Chandler has the ability to charge into and past defenders, drawing fouls and creating opportunities at the rim. He also has a knack for drawing in defenders and passing the ball on the move, creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. 247Sports noted that he has “plenty room for improvement” from deep, however.
Chandler's skills were on full display on Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) Circuit in 2019, where he averaged 14.7 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game. If the Tar Heels can win the race for Chandler, he would strengthen a solid guard rotation that could include Caleb Love, Anthony Harris and Jeremiah Francis.
However, Chandler has no shortage of schools bucking for him. In addition to North Carolina, he has received offers from Duke, Kansas, Florida State and his home state school of Tennessee, among others.
Paolo Banchero
Banchero, a power forward from Seattle, is on the bigger end of the spectrum. At 6-foot-9 and 235 pounds, he is the No. 1 power forward in the nation and No. 4 overall recruit for 2021.
Banchero is adept at both ends of the court. Offensively, he dominates inside, boasting an impressive ability to score off of second chances. Defensively, his size and strength give him a natural advantage.