Michael Malone’s early run on the recruiting trail has North Carolina in the mix for one of the class’s biggest names.
Five-star combo guard Adan Diggs has trimmed his list to seven schools, and the Tar Heels are still standing alongside Arizona, Kentucky, Duke, Arkansas, USC and Kansas. For UNC, that’s meaningful company to keep. Diggs is a 6-foot-4 combo/shooting guard from Gilbert, Arizona, and the Wildcats have to be viewed as an early favorite in this race.
Even so, North Carolina has stayed in the conversation all summer, and that alone says something about how much traction Malone has built in a short time since moving from the NBA to college basketball. With assistant head coach Chuck Martin helping steer the effort, the Tar Heels have become a real presence with top-end talent.
Diggs, the No. 1-ranked shooting guard and a top-five overall prospect in the 2027 class, has already lined up a visit to Arizona for Sept. 25. On3 reports that he also plans to see the rest of his finalists, though it wouldn’t be a surprise if a decision came soon after that stop in Tucson.
NEWS: 5⭐️ Adan Diggs is down to seven schools, he tells @Rivals.The 6-4 senior is the No. 1-ranked shooting guard and a top-five overall prospect in the 2027 class.https://t.co/R6hpQ8fmLw pic.twitter.com/mxJEQu1DN7
For Carolina fans, the larger picture is a mixed bag. The Tar Heels are in striking distance with a lot of elite recruits, but that also comes with the risk that some prospects are simply using blue-blood programs to boost their own profile. That concern feels especially relevant after NaVorro Bowman Jr. chose UConn this week, despite mutual interest with UNC during his recruitment.
Still, the fact that Diggs has kept North Carolina on the board gives the Tar Heels a real shot to stay active in one of the nation’s top recruiting battles. Whether that turns into a serious push will be clearer if he makes it to Chapel Hill after his Arizona visit.
For now, Malone has done the hard part: getting UNC in the room. The next step is finishing.
In Other News...
UNCs ACC Opener Just Took A Sudden Turn At Quarterback
Clemsons quarterback picture changed quickly this week after Christopher Vizzina suffered an elbow injury against Georgia Southern and was labeled week-to-week. For North Carolina, that means the ACC opener has picked up an extra layer of uncertainty before the Tar Heels even take the field, with freshman Tait Reynolds now expected to make his first career start.
Dabo Swinney said Reynolds showed promise in relief, but he also made it clear Clemson plans to lean on both quarterbacks moving forward. For UNC, the adjustment is less about the name on the depth chart than the timing of the change, because preparing for a first-time starter in a conference game can alter everything from pressure plans to coverage looks. [Read more 🡒]
UNC May Have A New Passing Weapon Before Clemson
UNC has spent the first two weeks grinding through ugly weather and finding out a lot about itself in the process. The Tar Heels have won both games in rain-soaked conditions, given up only 13 points across eight quarters and shown a defense that has looked sharper on third downs, while the offense has had to make the most of limited possessions and has still managed to stay efficient.
One of the quieter developments has been the emergence of freshman CJ Sadler in the passing game. He has already started to carve out a real role, sharing targets with the rest of the receiver group and giving the Tar Heels another option to feature as the schedule stiffens. With Clemson next, UNC may be looking at a new kind of threat to keep defenses honest, even if the full extent of that role is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Got An Opening It Cannot Waste Against Clemson
Clemsons offense is headed into its next meeting with North Carolina with a different face under center, after starting quarterback Christopher Vizzina suffered an elbow injury and is expected to miss the game. Freshman Tait Reynolds is projected to make the start in his place, giving the Tar Heels a chance to line up against a much less familiar look than the one Clemson had planned to feature.
For UNC, the timing matters because Clemson has already spent much of the early season looking out of sync, and a quarterback switch only adds to the uncertainty. The Tar Heels do not need to solve every issue for the Tigers to gain an edge here, but they do need to treat this as an opportunity to pressure a young passer and make Clemson play from behind the curve. [Read more 🡒]