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Reaction to Carolina’s latest recruiting is all over the map.
All interested Tar Heel fans know by now that Hubert Davis and his staff have struck out with the so-called “level 1” big men prospects they were chasing to hopefully replace the defense and rebounding of Armando Bacot.
UNC hoops has everything to offer qualified recruits – playing time, the prospect of joining a ranked team and on the biggest stage in the sport. Yet, the top targets went to other schools that, reportedly, offered more NIL money than Davis and Carolina could or wanted to.
The latest rejection was from Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi, who according to sources close to the basketball program wanted housing provided for his brother and a hefty Bitcoin account because he is Nigerian and can only qualify for scholarship benefits in the United States. UNC reportedly offered Omoruyi more than a million bucks, but apparently did not match Alabama.
“Where are you going to get that money for a 6-11 man who can’t shoot or pass?” said one Facebook post.
“We don’t stoop that low at UNC. Winning is not everything. Quality players (Manek, Ryan, Ingram) have recognized our heritage and tradition and will again,” wrote a second poster.
“Carolina’s best days have come and gone,” posted another. “If this is UNC’s trend of thought about not making big NIL deals, then Carolina should leave the ACC and join the Colonial Conference where they can compete.”
“Is it not possible that a kid just wants to go play somewhere else? Yes, we have a richer basketball transition than Alabama. Does that mean we get every player we are after,” came another post.
And the retort: “Yes, it is possible a kid wants to play somewhere else. However, when UNC misses on every big man they spoke with, there’s an issue. And in today’s game the issue is likely money.”
“So now we have to rely on significant minutes from (Zayden) High, a kid who Hubert wouldn’t play last year.”
And, of course, “We beat Duke. Get off our page, we don’t need another loser.”
Next up, reported by several websites, is Van-Ellen Lubin, a 6-8, 230-pound sophomore from Vanderbilt, who averaged 12-plus points and 6-plus rebounds for Jerry Stackhouse’s last Commodore team. Though undersized, Lubin could be in the post-rotation with J-Wash and J-Wit and High.
Also a possibility is Illinois 6-10 transfer Coleman Hawkins, who entered the portal as he goes through the NBA draft process. As a senior, he averaged 13 points a game and shot 45 percent from the floor and 37 percent from the arc. Hawkins says he is “more likely than not” to play his fifth college season.
Stay tuned. More names, and comments about their decisions, coming.
Featured image via Rutgers Athletics/Ben Solomon
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Social media is the paradise of losers. Who cares?
Some of you so called UNC fans look at what we have done this pass three years and be happy it will get better if you will be patient and keep the best wish’s for these kids to succeed in the sport they love