Previous connections to current prospects helped North Carolina score its two latest football recruiting coups.

The Tar Heels picked up oral commitment No. 2 for the Class of 2003 in late March from Lynchburg, Va., tight end Jon Hamlett, whose grandfather John Woodell was a two-way lineman for UNC during the Charlie Justice era.

Commit No. 3 came on April 16 when one of the state's top rising senior prospects, defensive end Marcus Hands of Wilmington's Laney High School, decided to follow prep teammate Rashaad Tindall to Chapel Hill. Tindall, who is expected to enroll at UNC next fall as a defensive back, teamed with Hands and Virginia signee Willie Davis to spark Laney to a 15-1 record and the state 4-A championship game in December.

Hamlett is a 6-foot-5, 260-pounder who earned all-district honors at Jefferson Forest High School last season. He caught 22 passes for 355 yards and one touchdown as a junior and had been hearing from schools such as East Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Virginia Tech during the early stages of recruiting this spring.

But it was the Tar Heels who were the first to offer a scholarship. Hamlett, who has spent many fall afternoons in Chapel Hill with his grandfather, didn't have to think twice about accepting the grant.

"It's where I wanted to come ever since I was a little kid," Hamlett said. "My grandfather brought me down to a lot of games. He's just a great person and he was always my role model when I was a little kid. I always wanted to play football because he did. I didn't know where I wanted to play at the time. It turns out it was here at Carolina."

Hamlett, who has been timed at 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, plays for a Jefferson Forest program well known for producing Division I football talent. Among the most recent Jefferson Forest stars to play for major college programs are Anthony Poindexter and Butch Jefferson at Virginia, Jake Grove at Virginia Tech and Chris Owen at Wake Forest.

Known for his good hands and speed at tight end, Hamlett will join a UNC program in 2003 that will have veteran Bobby Blizzard and as well as promising Brian Chacos at that position. But Hamlett believes he'll be able to carve himself a niche with the Tar Heels very early, despite the other talent on hand.

"I can catch the ball," Hamlett said. "I can block, too. I just think I'm capable of opening up the game a whole lot more once (UNC tight ends) coach (Ken) Browning decides that I'm ready to play. I think I'll help them out a lot and that I'll have an opportunity to play. I think that I'll have a good chance to play next year. I'm going to work hard over the next year to make that happen."

Hamlett was one of about 230 college prospects on display in Chapel Hill over the weekend of April 6 when Student Sports conducted one of the prestigious Nike Combines. He attended a UNC spring practice scrimmage later that day at Kenan Stadium.

"Coach Browning told me to just come down here, work out some and catch a few balls," Hamlett said. "I'm going to the spring game after this. It gives other people a chance to see me and to see what Carolina is getting, I guess."

Hands surprised his new head coach - and I do mean new - when he dropped by the football office to announce his commit to UNC. Chuck Martin had been on the job just one day at Laney after a long stint at Jacksonville High when the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Hands gave him the news.

"I had wanted to get into his home and talk to him and his family about what to expect and discuss things he should be aware of in the recruiting process," Martin said. "I got here on Monday and the next morning he meets me at school and tells me, 'Coach, I want commit' and 'Would you call Coach Bunting for me.'

"I asked if he was positive that was what he wanted to do. He said, 'Yes,' this is what he and his family wanted."

Hands said his relationship with Tindall was one of several factors that led to his commitment.

"We have a good relationship and ever since I found out he was going to Carolina I've been interested," Hands said. "But I also like the campus and the academic help they provide freshmen when they first come in."

In Hands, the Tar Heels have gained an athlete most consider one of the top five college prospects in North Carolina for next season. South Carolina had also offered him a scholarship, and schools such as Duke, N.C. State and Tennessee were actively recruiting him, too.

A three-year varsity performer, Hands began his prep career at Wilmington's Hoggard High School where he started as a freshman and sophomore. He transferred to Laney last season and collected 38 solo tackles, three sacks, forced three fumbles and made three fumble recoveries.

Hands also competes in track and plays basketball at Laney. He runs the 400-meter dash, the 300 hurdles and throws the shot and discus for the Bucs.

Martin coached against Hands last season while head coach at Jacksonville. He calls Hands "a phenomenal" college prospect.

"I've talked to different people and they say he runs a legit 4.8 in the 40-yard dash," Martin said. "Anyone that size and that fast can dominate high school football, or he should. And he's just scratching the surface of what he's going to be.

"Of course, he needs to get in the weight room and develop his body to the full potential. But he's got the toughness and the heart. As a matter of fact, one of the first things that inspired me about him when he came to our first meeting was that he told me, 'I want to be your leader.' I appreciated that. He was fired up."

The three oral commitments mark a strong start to the Class of 2003 for North Carolina. The Tar Heels are expected to sign around 20 to 22 players when the national signing period begins next February.