Class Of 2021 SF Dontrez Styles Commits To UNC

Dontrez Styles, a 4-star small forward who attends Kinston (NC) High School, announced Saturday he will play basketball at North Carolina.

Styles, who is 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, is currently rated the No. 58 overall prospect nationally in the class of 2021 and is No. 12 at his position.

“Playing college basketball in front of my parents was one of my dreams,” Styles told THI, when asked the reasons he chose the Tar Heels. “The coaching staff believes in me and I believe in them”

Styles said he picked UNC over N.C. State and notes he appreciates Carolina’s strong tradition in having players from Kinston having productive college careers in Chapel Hill before playing in the NBA and hopes to continue that. But, of course, this was about more than that, as well.

“It would be great,” he said. “But I’m going to do what’s best for me and my family so we going to see.”

So Styles is the first member of the class of 2021 to commit to Roy Williams’ program and he’s not looking back.

“This was the best decision for me and family and for reaching my dreams,” he said.

“This is a great addition to UNC for 2021 as the first piece. With Dontrez Styles, the Tar Heels will be getting a tough, hard-nosed combo forward who can play the three or the four in a small lineup. I love his quickness, his athleticism and his ability to rebound. He is the biggest player on his Kinston Vikings team, so he’s really leaned upon to be their best rebounder and I think he carries that niche over to UNC when he arrives.

“Styles loves to attack the basket as a slasher and he’s great at picking up garbage buckets from the weak side. He shoots it OK and seems to be improving with his percentages there. He’ll need to shore up his shot next season and I’m sure he will focus on it in his senior season. Love this addition from a culture standpoint as well as Styles is a hard worker, with a high motor who is very coachable.”