7/7/2016 football Edit

2019 VA ATH's First Offer Is A Dream One

2019 ATH Hakeem Beamon plays on both lines, but sees himself as a DE, is very high on the Tar Heels.

Andrew Jones • TarHeelIllustrated

Publisher

Andrew Jones has covered sports for 26 years, including all major college & professional sports for daily newspapers & national sites. He's done radio and TV & is entering his seventh year at THI.

Hakeem Beamon still has plenty of time before he needs to decide where he’s going to college, but if the early returns on his recruitment mean anything, North Carolina is in pretty good shape.

Beamon camped at UNC on June 18, and not long after, the Tar Heels became the first school to offer the 2019 athlete. UNC is a school that has long been on Beamon’s radar, and for it to be his first offer made it extra special.

“It was very exciting. Still is, I feel like I'm dreaming,” he told THI.

Linebackers coach John Papuchis and defensive line coach Tray Scott were part of extending the offer, notifying Beamon’s coach at L.C. Bird H.S. in Chesterfield, VA. There, the 6-4, 235-pound rising sophomore is building a reputation and raising expectations. Some who know the program well suggest Beamon could be the most highly touted prospect to ever come out of the school, which has produced many top-flight players in the past.

He can play multiple positions, but most notable serves as an offensive tackle and defensive end. The latter is where Beamon prefers to play, and it might be the position most likely in is future.

“I think most places are listing me as an athlete,” he said. “I think my strongest position is LE. I've been talking to coach Scott, but I'm sure we'll figure it out in the next few years.”

As for the UNC program, Beamon is very high on where it’s headed. He’s also extremely impressed with that he’s seen.

“It's really good, I think they are going have a great season again this year,” he said. “Best school I’ve been to so far. They really care about the students there. I like how the tutors there to help you with stuff. I really can see myself over there.”

Beamon has also camped at Virginia Tech, Duke and Maryland. His focus during these sessions has been to get better mainly at defensive end. Even when not working out, he takes the time to watch some of the best the sport has known, even going back to the 1960s to find greats he can lean from.

“I've been watching some d-lineman, Reggie White, Deacon Jones, JJ Watt, Jadaveon Clowney, and Rashan Garym” Beamon noted.

Beamon is in no hurry to make a decision. He’s going to lean heavily on his faith to guide him through the process, and in time he will know what to do. But certainly as of now, Carolina blue is foremost in his conscience.