Third Live Period Underway
The third July Live period started on Wednesday evening and Roy Williams and his stable of trusted assistants will be back on the road again for four additional days of evaluation time.
The period runs from Wednesday evening until Sunday evening
Last week, the staff was scattered across the country as well. Taking the time to watch their commitments, offered targets and potential recruiting targets from the class of 2018, 2019 and 2020.
THI was on hand for the Adidas Select in Richmond, VA, last weekend and spotted Hubert Davis watching rising junior big man Armando Bacot as well as elite rising sophomore Isaiah Todd. Both prospects play in the Team Loaded Virginia program.
The Tar Heel coaches also placed eyes on Joey Baker, Nassir Little, Bryan Antoine, Scottie Lewis, Simi Shittu, Wendell Moore, Joshua Nickelberry, Ashton Hagans, Matthew Hurt, Zion Williamson, Emmitt Williams, Rechon Black, Coby White, Nate Laszewski, Ignas Brazdekis and numerous other prospects.
Many of the above prospects are in serious contention for UNC offers but so far, Roy Williams has been keeping his scholarship offers close to the vest. With two commitments already on board for 2018, in Black and White, the UNC coach is taking time, carefully vetting his prospects in that class. We believe the Heels will likely take two more players from the rising senior class, when it's all said and done. And we are holding tight to the belief that 6-foot-6 Nassir Little could be the next offered prospect in that class.
Steve Robinson has been communicating weekly with Little's coaches after every evaluation period so far and there are strong indications that the formal offer from Williams may come shortly after the staff watches him again this week.
Williams just may be waiting for all three evaluation periods to be done before doling out the offers.
Another offer that we feel is on the cusp is for Shittu, a big-time physical athlete who can play as a versatile power forward. THI loves Shittu, a Canadian prospect, because he has grown-man strength, quickness, ferocious bounce and he can handle the ball for a 6-9 big man. The upside is simply through the roof.
If UNC does pursue a true point guard in the class, keep an eye on Hagans who excels as an assist man, who can dominate a game at his position as a passer and relentless defender. So far, the staff seems content, however with White, who has already committed and is capable of playing on and off the ball, as an attacking combo-guard.
This week, the staff will likely spend most of their time in 'Sin City' where several events are going on, including the Adidas Summer Championships, The Eight, a Nike event, and The Fab 48.
While THI cannot confirm all of the targets that the coaches will watch, the aforementioned names above are ones that recruitniks should pay close attention to.
Some additional ones to add include 6-7 PF Jericole Hellems, who we have been talking about on the Four Corners message board this week. Hellems plays alongside Francis Okoro, a powerful young post prospect who is also on the UNC radar.
We can confirm that UNC reached out to Hellems after the second live period to express interest. The rising senior plays as a combo-forward as he has wing skills and post skills.
Cole Anthony, a superstar point guard from New York, and son of former UNLV guard Greg Anthony, is also someone that the staff has expressed an interest in. He is a rising junior and he keeps his recruitment between himself and his father. But UNC has been spotted watching the confident playmaker, so it's safe to assume that the interest being communicated is likely reciprocal from Anthony's side as well.
They'll also watch and be seen by elite five-star Romeo Langford, if he is participating this week at the Adidas events.
Keep an eye on the 'Four Corners' board for running updates, tidbits and intel as this week goes on.
