UNC basketball finalizes one of the best classes this decade

The fall signing period for college basketball has officially begun, and the North Carolina Tar Heels will sign five exceptional talents in the 2020 recruiting class. Roy Williams went on a tear this recruiting season, as he aggressively pursued perhaps his most ambitions recruiting board to date, with very few targets being lower than a five-star. The fruits of his labor have now paid off, and the Heels should be set to reload next year with the second-best recruiting class in the country.

Let’s go ahead and dive right into who the Tar Heels will sign, and then take a look at how this class stacks up against other Tar Heel recruiting classes this decade.

Day’Ron Sharpe

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Position: Center
Height: 6’10
Weight: 246
High School: Montverde Academy
Hometown: Montverde, FL
247 Sports Composite Positional Rank: 4th
247 Sports Composite National Rank: 17th

R.J. Davis

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Position: Combo Guard
Height: 5’11
Weight: 164
High School: Archbishop Stepinac
Hometown: White Plains, NY
247 Sports Composite Positional Rank: 7th
247 Sports Composite National Rank: 57th

Caleb Love

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Position: Point Guard
Height: 6’3
Weight: 170
High School: Christian Brothers College
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
247 Sports Composite Positional Rank: 4th
247 Sports Composite National Rank: 21st

Walker Kessler

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Position: Center
Height: 7’0
Weight: 245
High School: Woodward Academy
Hometown: Fairburn, GA
247 Sports Composite Positional Rank: 3rd
247 Sports Composite National Rank: 15th

Puff Johnson

Position: Small Forward
Height: 6’7
Weight: 185
High School: Hillcrest Prep
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
247 Sports Composite Positional Rank: 13th
247 Sports Composite National Rank: 48th

As a group, the 2020 recruiting class ranks as one of the best recruiting classes that the Tar Heels have had since 2010. In fact, if we were to go off of the 247 Sports Composite player rating averages, Carolina has landed their third best recruiting class during that timeframe:

1.) 2010: 0.9948

2.) 2014: 0.9929

3.) 2020: 0.9885

4.) 2018: 0.9880

5.) 2016: 0.9829

6.) 2012: 0.9808

7.) 2013: 0.9712

8.) 2019: 0.9673

9.) 2015: 0.9291

10.) 2017: 0.9077

11.) 2011: 0.9056

To take a look at a different data set, let’s take a look at how this class ranks using the points system that the composite uses when they rank individual teams against the field:

1.) 2020: 69.66

2.) 2019: 67.19

3.) 2012: 66.55

4.) 2010: 65.51

5.) 2014: 65.06

6.) 2018: 64.49

7.) 2011: 63.96

8.) 2016: 62.95

9.) 2013: 61.48

10.) 2017: 57.08

11.) 2015: 41.84

When looking at this data set, the 2020 recruiting class has the most points of any UNC recruiting class since 2010. At first it’s a bit puzzling to see the class show up as the best in that particular department, but it’s likely that the points system is based off of depth as well as talent. For instance: 2010 had Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock, and Kendall Marshall, but for 2020 Roy Williams has not only landed three five-star players, but added on two four-stars.

So where does this class realistically rank among the best since 2010? There’s no definitive answer, but it’s safe to say that this class is at least one of the best three classes that Williams has landed in the last 10 years. However, while scores and ratings are fun and all, what will be even more fun is watching the players that will be taking the court.

Considering the likely exits following the 2019-20 season, this class takes care of a lot of needs that the Tar Heels will have. Caleb Love should be a plug-and-play replacement for current freshman star Cole Anthony, as he is known to light up the scoreboard on a consistent basis. Day’Ron Sharpe and Walker Kessler ensure that Roy Williams will resume his usual post-dominant ways, and will likely fill at least one hole should Armando Bacot leave for the NBA Draft. Puff Johnson was a huge late get for the Heels, as they desperately needed a wing player that will be able to give the team some valuable minutes. The bonus? He is very familiar with the system, and his brother Cam Johnson I’m sure is likely to fill him in on anything he needs to know. Finally, RJ Davis will be a great addition to the guard spot and will give the Heels more depth, hopefully eliminating some of the worries that the Heels are currently dealing with as far as attrition goes.

All and all, the 2020 class is a deep, offensively gifted, and exciting group of guys that should have an instant impact when they arrive on campus. What do you think of how the 2020 class turned out? Let us know in the comments below.