
Just one day after landing a former McDonald’s All-American in the transfer portal, new UNC head men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis landed his first five-star high-school prospect on Friday in forward Jalen Washington.
Washington is a 6-foot-9-inch forward from West Side High School in Gary, Indiana who is ranked as the No. 21 overall player in the Class of 2022 according to the 24/7 Sports Composite Rankings.
The lead recruiter for Washington was UNC assistant coach Sean May, a former national champion with the Tar Heels who is an Indiana native himself.
Washington becomes the third member of the Tar Heels’ 2022 recruiting class, joining three-star center Will Shaver and four-star guard Seth Trimble.
He fits right in with the type of big man Davis has pursued to this point through transfers and recruiting in his young head coaching career: those who show an ability to play both inside and outside.
As a junior last season at West Side, Washington averaged 13 points, six rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while leading his team to the Indiana Class 4A state semifinals. He also shot 40 percent from three-point range.
Davis offered Washington a scholarship this past May, and he chose the Tar Heels over other offers from Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Maryland Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Purdue and Stanford.
https://twitter.com/jalen_w13/status/1413605652790980613
Photo via Instagram (Jalen Washington @w._jalen)
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Related Stories
‹

UNC Basketball Recruits Earning National RecognitionA pair of recruits for the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams brought in prestigious honors this week. Seth Trimble, a UNC signee from Menomonee Falls, WI, was named his state’s Gatorade Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year, while Paulina Paris, a signee from New City, N.Y., was named to the 2022 Jordan Brand Classic […]

Four-Star Recruit Tyler Nickel Commits to UNC Men's BasketballUNC men’s basketball head coach Hubert Davis isn’t showing any first-year jitters on the recruiting trail. Wednesday afternoon marked another offseason win for Davis and the Tar Heels, as four-star wing Tyler Nickel committed to Carolina over finalists Virginia Tech, LSU, Butler and Iowa. 2022 four-star Tyler Nickel has committed to North Carolina, he tells […]

Four-Star Guard Seth Trimble Announces Commitment to UNC Men's BasketballNew UNC head men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis landed his second high school commitment for the Class of 2022 on Wednesday evening: four-star point guard Seth Trimble announced his intentions to join the Tar Heel program. Trimble — the younger brother of former UNC guard J.P. Tokoto — hails from Menomenee Falls, Wisconsin and is […]

Men's Basketball: UNC Lands Commitment From Three-Star Center Will ShaverNew UNC head men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis landed his first high-school commitment on Wednesday, in three-star center Will Shaver. Shaver — from Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Alabama — stands at 6-foot-9 and weighs 245 pounds. According to 24/7 Sports, he is the No. 146 ranked player in the country and the No. 16 […]

Chansky's Notebook: On The GlassMichael Malone began his press conference by pointing out what might be Carolina's biggest liability this season: rebounding effectively.
![]()
The Morning News: Prosecution Rests in Hedgepeth Trial, Early Voting Continues in NCIn today's news: the prosecution rests in the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial, and early voting turnout remains high for the 2026 midterm.
![]()
On Air Today: 97.9 The Hill's Michael Koh on UNC Football and Men's Basketball, October 19, 2026The Hill's Michael Koh discusses a busy weekend in sports, from UNC football's win over Duke to the latest basketball exhibition.

UNC Men's Basketball Unranked in 2026-27 Preseason AP PollMichael Malone’s Tar Heels will not be ranked at the outset of the 2026-27 season. The AP Top 25 preseason poll was published Monday morning, and UNC was not included. Florida reigns supreme at No. 1 in the poll, followed by No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Illinois, No. 4 UConn and No. 5 Arizona. Elsewhere […]

UNC Men's Basketball Blown Out vs. Indiana in Second Preseason ExhibitionUNC was outplayed on both ends of the floor against Indiana in the Tar Heels’ second exhibition of the preseason Sunday evening, and the Hoosiers won 76-58 in Indianapolis. Indiana flexed its muscles on the glass, outrebounding Carolina by a dominant 53-31 margin. The Hoosiers had more defensive rebounds (33) than UNC had in total. […]

UNC Men's Basketball vs. Indiana (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off TimeUNC will continue preseason action Sunday when it travels to Indianapolis to face Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. If you aren’t making the trip with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen on the radio can do so at 97.9 FM and […]
›