North Carolina’s recruiting board keeps getting younger.
While Michael Malone and the Tar Heels have spent plenty of time chasing five-star Class of 2027 guard Jordan Page, they’ve now dipped into the next cycle too. Page, a Raleigh native who is set to finish his high school career at IMG Academy in Florida, recently took an official visit back to UNC. And one of his current teammates has now entered the picture in Chapel Hill.
That teammate is Bentley Lusakueno, a five-star Class of 2028 prospect who announced on social media that North Carolina has offered him a scholarship.
“Thank you to the University of North Carolina, Coach Malone, Coach Martin and Coach May, for the scholarship offer. All glory to God! @UNC_Basketball pic.twitter.com/HiLd4mTM6t”
Lusakueno, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Atlanta, Georgia, is also headed to IMG Academy, where he will play his first season starting this winter. He’s already one of the most heavily recruited players in his class, with more than 20 programs having offered, including Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Iowa, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Miami, Missouri, Oregon, South Carolina, UCF, and USC.
247Sports scouting director Adam Finkelstein described the junior big man this way:
“A developing young big, Lusakueno has clear long-term tools. His frame is still lean right now, but he has big and high shoulders that should allow him to fill out nicely. He's a fluid mover for his age and size and has impressive early defensive instincts.”
The Tar Heels’ offer makes Lusakueno the fifth player in the Class of 2028 to receive one from UNC. His ranking can move around a bit, but he’s generally viewed as a top-10 player in the class.
North Carolina’s attention may be centered on 2027 right now, but the message from Malone’s staff is pretty clear: they’re not limiting themselves to one recruiting class. UNC is pushing hard to land elite talent whenever it can, and Chapel Hill is being sold as the place to do it.
If Page ends up in the fold, he could help UNC’s case with Lusakueno down the road. That’s a long way off, of course - Lusakueno hasn’t even begun his junior season - but the Tar Heels have made their move early, and that matters in this race.
In Other News...
UNC Football Now Faces A Troubling Availability Question Before Saturday
Four North Carolina football players were involved in a traffic stop in Chapel Hill this week, a development that landed on top of an already important stretch for the Tar Heels. During the stop, one player was arrested on a misdemeanor gun charge, another was cited for speeding, and marijuana was seized, putting the program back in the spotlight for reasons it would rather avoid. The university said it is cooperating with officials and has not announced any disciplinary actions.
For a team trying to keep its focus on Saturday, the immediate football concern is availability. Two of the players involved are already listed as unavailable for the upcoming game, leaving UNC with more uncertainty to sort through before kickoff. Even without a formal disciplinary announcement, the situation adds another layer of distraction for a program that now has to balance the legal side, the schools response and a short week of preparation. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Belichicks UNC Staff Suddenly Faces A Serious Off-Field Shakeup
North Carolinas football program is dealing with an unexpected jolt off the field after defensive coordinator Steve Belichick resigned following a medical leave and an internal investigation into the program. The review found isolated actions that disregarded the universitys values, but it did not uncover systemic issues, leaving the Tar Heels to sort through the fallout as they try to keep the football side moving forward.
The staffing change lands at a delicate moment for Bill Belichicks first UNC setup, and it comes alongside another discipline matter involving wide receiver Keeyun Chapman, who was suspended indefinitely after an arrest related to carrying a concealed handgun. For a program already under a sharper-than-usual spotlight, the combination of personnel uncertainty and an off-field incident adds another layer of turbulence before the next stage of the season. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Heads To Clemson With New Availability Concerns
North Carolina heads into its ACC opener at Clemson with the availability picture looking a lot thinner than the Tar Heels would have hoped for at this point in the season. Seven players are listed as out, and two more are questionable, leaving the roster juggling injuries and other issues as it prepares for one of the leagues tougher road environments.
The most notable situation surrounds wide receivers C.J. Sadler and Keeyun Chapman, who are facing legal charges after a traffic stop, with the team saying it is cooperating with authorities. On the other side of the matchup, Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina is listed as probable despite an elbow injury, adding another layer to a game that already carries plenty of early conference importance for North Carolina. [Read more 🡒]