Carolina Offer Was 'Out Of The Blue' For Trey Kaufman

Trey Kaufman has quickly become a name to know in North Carolina Tar Heels recruiting circles.

The forward from Sellersburg, IN, received an offer from Roy Williams roughly two weeks ago, and showed in one of the most anticipated AAU games of the summer why he's deserving of the invite. He went for 30 points in Indiana Elite's 100-74 win over the Indy Heat.

Corey Evans caught our eye over the weekend the he predicted that Kaufman would have the most heated recruitment in the 2021 class, and that North Carolina would be right in the middle of the fray.

"It has always been assumed that the skilled forward from Indiana would stay close to home.," Evans wrote. "That put Indiana, Louisville and Purdue in the perceived driver’s seat. However, from asking around and getting a feel for his recruitment, it is starting to sound like the No. 39 ranked player in the 2021 class could be more open to leaving his home state. North Carolina and Virginia have been pushing and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few others make plays for him in the near future."

Kaufman spoke with Tar Heel Illustrated on Sunday afternoon and clarified the rumors about his recruitment as well as his introduction to the Carolina coaching staff.

Here is that conversation:

Q: The summer has been non-eventful for the most part, but you had a big day yesterday against Indy Heat.

KAUFMAN: "We knew of all the tournaments we have played this was going to be the hardest one. As a team we haven't played the best competition, but Indy Heat is one of the better teams. Even in the EYBL they are a pretty good team. We knew we had to go out and play hard and compete. Being the competitor I am, I just wanted to go out and prove something."

Q: Things have slowed down considerably since early March. What have you concentrated your work on since then and how do you feel like you've improved?

KAUFMAN: "This summer I've tried to get as athletic as I could. I'm just trying to move better. I've got with a trainer. He's with the Movement Institute. That's the biggest thing as far as lateral quickness, and vertical strength as well. The athletic side to my game has really improved."

Q: Where does your size stand right now?

KAUFMAN: "I've grown some over the summer. I'm 6-9, going up to 6-10, and 215."

Q: You picked up an offer from North Carolina in late July.

KAUFMAN: "The day before I got the offer, Coach (Brad) Frederick called me up and said, 'We haven't talked to you in awhile, but we're interested again. I'll send you Coach Williams' number.'

"The next day he called me and offered, so it was kind of quick I would say. But I've talked to Coach Williams twice since then. I'm just developing that relationship. It's kind of the early stages. I think we're going to get a Zoom call in the next week and further develop the relationship."

Q: You said they called and then offered the next day. Were you caught off guard?

KAUFMAN: "Yeah, it's North Carolina so you're going to be surprised with that offer. But the other part to that how quick it was. It seemed like it was out of the blue."

Q: What have the conversations been like with Coach Williams and what has been the sales pitch?

KAUFMAN: "They've had people in that four spot that's taken them over the edge and made them a really good team, and that's who he wants me to be. You've got Luke Maye. That's the guy he compares me to, and there are some other guys he compares me to. Again, it's my fit, and how their offense works, and how I can fit in their system."

Q: What's your take on Coach Williams after talking to him several times?

KAUFMAN: "He's a very competitive person, which I like. He's prideful about his program. Those are the two biggest things I got from our conversations, and he thinks I am a good fit for the program."

Q: What are your overall thoughts about the North Carolina program?

KAUFMAN: Since it (recruitment) is so new, I don't want to say too much. I'm still kind of looking in to what they have to offer, and what that means for my recruiting. The program speaks for itself as far as how much they've won, and he's a legendary coach."

Q: There have been a ton of great players play that position at North Carolina. have you paid attention to that?

KAUFMAN: "Yeah, that's a big deal to me. The school that can develop me and give me the best chance to get me to the NBA will be high on what I'm looking for in a school. That is definitely one of the biggest things I am seeing out of North Carolina right now."

Q: Here is the take on your recruitment right now. Tell me what you think. Indiana, Purdue, and Louisville are recruiting you hard. Now, North Carolina and Virginia are all in and they could cause you to take a second look about moving away from your home state and the region.

KAUFMAN: "I think it's one of those things where location matters, but if there is a better fit in another state from home, that's where I'm going to go. Like I said, location doesn't matter if the better situation is somewhere else."

Q: Do you feel pressure from inside the state of Indiana to stay home?

KAUFMAN: "No. I have a strong circle, a strong circle with my family. They just want me to make the best decision for me. I've worked hard enough to be in this situation, so I don't want to make this decision hard."

Q: What is your recruiting calendar from here? You can't take official visits, so how does that fit into it?

KAUFMAN: "I'm scheduling Zoom calls. There are a lot of Zoom calls that have been scheduled. Hopefully the deadline doesn't get extended again. I'm hoping that when I'll be able to go out, I'll be able to go out. That's what I'm planning, and that's what I'm looking forward to so far. There's not science to it right now. There's no timeline or commitment date. If it happens, it happens. It''s more if it feels right."

Q: What happens when you and your family meet with a coaching staff in a Zoom meeting? Do you get everything out of it you need to?

KAUFMAN: "Zoom calls are hard. A log of kids are E-Learning, and it is the same way. Learning was a problem for us in schools, and Zoom is the same way. It's more convenient if you can go out in person and see coaches, and the team that way. Zoom calls are what they are. They're a substitute. I'm more of an in-person, relationship guy, but Zoom calls are the best you have, and you have to make the best of what you have."