North Carolina’s 2027 recruiting push is starting to take shape, and the early returns have been a mix of momentum and frustration.
The Tar Heels spent this offseason trying to build a roster as quickly as possible, and by that standard the coaching staff did strong work. The bigger job now is turning that quick fix into something lasting, and that means stacking an elite recruiting class. Next offseason will be the first real chance for this regime to shape the roster around incoming freshmen, so the 2027 trail matters.
A big part of that chase has centered on top prospects with ties closer to home. In late September, CJ Rosser and Jordan Page, both North Carolina natives, were in Chapel Hill on the same day for official visits. That setup gave the Tar Heels real hope that they might come away with one or both players.
Page, though, is off the board. The 5-star small forward committed to UConn, a tough miss for North Carolina considering the 6-foot-5, 190-pound forward is from Raleigh.
Another name the Tar Heels have hosted recently is Montgomery, ESPN’s No. 8 overall recruit and No. 3 small forward in the 2027 class. The 6-foot-6, 185-pound forward currently has a crystal ball prediction pointing to Duke.
That would be a painful swing for UNC, not just because Montgomery is one of its targets, but because he would land with the Blue Devils. Jon Scheyer’s program has made a habit of piling up elite recruiting classes.
There is still reason for North Carolina to stay engaged on the trail, though. ESPN’s No. 11 overall prospect and No. 4 point guard in the 2027 class, Nasir Anderson, canceled his visit with Kentucky and moved up his official visit to Chapel Hill last week, dropping his scheduled trip to USC.
Anderson could still reschedule the Kentucky visit, but at the moment the Wildcats look to be out of the picture. After initially naming 10 schools, he has trimmed his focus to five: North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Providence and Georgia. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound guard is from Norcross, Georgia, and the Tar Heels should feel encouraged about where they stand with him.
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The biggest decision appears to be on the perimeter, where UNC has more options than obvious answers at both wing and point guard. Neoklis Avdalas, Matt Able, Terrence Brown Jr., Isaiah Denis, Angelo Brizzi, Jarin Stevenson and Maximo Adams are all part of the conversation, and the uncertainty around who starts and who settles into what role is already one of the defining storylines of the new era. Malone does not need to solve everything in one exhibition, but he does need to start narrowing the picture. [Read more 🡒]
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Now comes a useful measuring stick against No. 25 Pittsburgh, a game that feels bigger than just another conference date. A win would not solve everything, but it would give the Tar Heels a tangible step forward and a chance to show that Belichicks arrival is beginning to translate into something sturdier than hope. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Added Another Huge Piece For Courtney Banghart's Future Core
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Ojo said the fit at North Carolina stood out because of the academics, the coaching staff and the team environment, a familiar formula for Bangharts staff when it lands a coveted prospect. For a program that continues to think ahead while staying competitive in the moment, Ojos pledge adds another high-upside piece to a core that could keep taking shape in Chapel Hill. [Read more 🡒]