We’re at a point where any recruiting news is almost surprising, honestly. Football seasons are being delayed (and with as few states as UNC’s 2021 class covers, I’m not sure any of them will be playing football in the fall), basketball’s big commitment time period is a while away, and, of course, people aren’t really getting to take the mind-changing visits to campus that are the only real public indicators of what’s going to happen. But we continue reporting what we can, and hopefully these tidbits continue to paint a bigger picture of what’s going on in UNC recruiting. Let’s get into it:

Football:

• All eyes are on Diego Pounds and Bryson Nesbit, the last two real targets for UNC’s 2021 class. Pounds was a late offer after Jared Wilson’s flip, which would ordinarily be a bit insulting to a good recruit, but Pounds is a local prospect and has friends on UNC’s roster so that might overcome it. By contrast, the staff has been pressing Nesbit for a while. The South Mecklenburg tight end will hopefully have a decision soon. His Crystal Balls point towards South Carolina but you have to think UNC’s got a chance given recent battles with the Cocks.
• The pandemic hasn’t helped, but compared to last year, UNC’s behind on 2022 action. Elijah Burris and Cameron Roseman-Sinclair committed to UNC in the winter of 2018-2019, over half a year past this time last year. Now, there aren’t even many indications as to what ‘22 prospects are close to committing. They haven’t been able to visit, sure, but we might see something soon regardless.

Basketball:

• Another of UNC’s 2021 targets is off the board, as Paolo Banchero has committed to Duke. Most were expecting him to stay in-state at Washington or Gonzaga, but this isn’t surprising, either, given that he’s very much in the mold of an undersized Marvin Bagley (who Duke heavily featured in his one college year). He’d eliminated UNC a while ago, so it doesn’t change much for the Heels, who probably aren’t in the market for a big regardless.
• Harrison Ingram also seems to be less and less of a possibility, according to Rivals’ Corey Evans. A few weeks ago, when he released his top 6, it looked like UNC and Michigan were in the second tier of his possible choices, after Stanford and Purdue but ahead of Harvard and Howard. Now, it looks like Michigan has cleared UNC and is a firm third, with UNC in the margins now. Per Evans:

“if it isn’t the Boilermakers or Cardinal, Michigan would be the pick. Sure, North Carolina remains in the picture, as does Harvard and Howard, but the Wolverines have made Ingram a major priority since offering earlier in the spring.”