Tag: Simeon Wilcher

National analyst predicts Kentucky to land key 2023 Tar Heels target

The Tar Heels could be going head-to-head with Kentucky for a key recruit in the class of 2023.

The UNC basketball class of 2023 is off to a terrific start as it currently holds two commitments from consensus five-star prospects.

The Tar Heels have the No. 1 overall player in the class from both Rivals and 247Sports with 6-foot-9 forward [autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag], and also have the commitment from five-star point guard [autotag]Simeon Wilcher[/autotag].

The looming target that the Tar Heels are extremely active on the recruiting trail with is five-star hybrid wing [autotag]Matas Buzelis[/autotag]. Buzelis has offers from Kentucky, Duke, and North Carolina among many others and has taken visits to Kentucky, Florida State, and Wake Forest.

Not only is the coaching staff targeting Buzelis, so are Wilcher and Jackson.

“Matas. That’s who we are trying to get. We are trying to get Matas,” Wilcher previously said. “That would complete, I wouldn’t say complete but that will be a force to reckon with. Especially with Seth [Trimble] and all those guys that will be there when we get there, I think it will just all work out. We really have a chance to win it, instead of falling short.”

But, one recruiting analyst gave a prediction for another shade of blue. 247Sports national recruiting analyst Travis Brahnam made a prediction for Buzelis to wind up in Kentucky when it’s all said and done.

He did give a caveat and say it was his ‘way too early prediction’ and noted that a decision is not expected soon.

Buzelis is ranked No. 7 in the updated 247Sports rankings for the 2023 class and the No. 3 small forward.

247Sports analyst Jerry Meyer broke down his game.

At 6-10 has exceptional length for a highly developed skill set.Has a very thin build but can absorb contact. Is a smooth athlete with wiggle and capable of scoring around defenders. When not euro stepping to finish, prefers to finish off two feet. Shoots the ball well from outside but does have a low release at this point. Midrange scoring is an are for development where there is great potential. Handles the ball extremely well. Has a high dribble but it is on a string. Sees the floor and has feel for passing. Needs to gain strength as a rebounder but has a nose for the ball and has extremely sure hands. Lateral quickness can improve but has a feel for using his length as a defensive weapon. His competitive nature bodes well for his future development.

Time will tell if Kentucky lands one of the most talented players in the 2023 class, but for now — especially with an official visit in the books — it looks like the team to beat.

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UNC Basketball commit Simeon Wilcher sees slight drop in new 247Sports rankings

Tar Heels 2023 point guard commit Simeon Wilcher saw a slight drop in his 247Sports ranking with the release on Thursday afternoon.

The new 247Sports rankings for the class of 2023 were released on Thursday and saw some movement for the two UNC basketball commits.

While [autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag] rose up to the No. 1 player in the class, [autotag]Simeon Wilcher[/autotag] slid two spots to No. 20 overall — whereas he was at No. 18 before. He is listed as the No. 3 combo guard in the class.

He did, however, jump to No. 12 overall in the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Wilcher had been dealing with an ankle injury he suffered the first night of the first live evaluation period in April and missed some time following, so a slight drop in the ranking isn’t a total surprise, especially since it’s just two spots.

The Roselle Catholic (NJ) point guard averaged 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game as a junior. He had 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the State Title game.

Wilcher recently landed in the top-10 in the most updated ESPN rankings.

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UNC 2023 commit GG Jackson dishes on improvements in his game

UNC basketball commit GG Jackson touched on what improvements he is looking to make before arriving in Chapel Hill next fall.

UNC basketball commit [autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag] is a few weeks into his North Carolina commitment and continues to shine on the court. But, he’s not settling down any time soon.

Jackson took part in the Josh Level Classic over the weekend at Dudley High School with some of the top talent in North Carolina.

Following the event he talked with TarHeelIllustrated.com about the biggest part of his game he’s looking to improve on before heading to Chapel Hill next fall.

“Definitely being a consistent shot maker. I feel like I kind of am now once I get going a little bit. I didn’t really showcase it a lot (tonight), I was just getting downhill. But definitely a consistent shot maker.”

As a junior, the South Carolina native led the Ridge View Blazers to a 20-11 record and state championship while averaging 22.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game.

Jackson is currently the top-ranked player in the Rivals150 class of 2023 rankings and a consensus top-5 player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

The 6-foot-9 forward is part of a two-man 2023 recruiting class for UNC that ranks No. 2 in the country according to Rivals. The Tar Heels hold commitments from two five-stars, Jackson and point guard Simeon Wilcher.

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G.G. Jackson says he’s already building a relationship with UNC players

UNC basketball recruit G.G. Jackson is forming relationships with current players on the roster.

Following their Final Four run, Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program made a big splash by landing five-star 2023 prospect [autotag]G.G. Jackson[/autotag].

The South Carolina native is one of the top prospects overall in the 2023 class and gave the Tar Heels their second five-star player in the class along with [autotag]Simeon Wilcher[/autotag]. The class will be an important one for the Tar Heels especially with Caleb Love, Armando Bacot, Leaky Black and R.J. Davis likely all leaving after this year.

But before Jackson gets on UNC’s campus next year, he’s already building relationships with the players on the current roster. Here is what Jackson told Tar Heel Illustrated’s Jacob Turner at the Josh Level Classic on Saturday:

“Definitely close to Justin (McKoy), Puff (Johnson), and Caleb Love. Armando (Bacot) hits me up from time to time, but I know he’s pretty busy. I feel like I’m starting to build a relationship with those guys. Caleb, he calls me every now and then, (and) we’ll sit on the phone for like 20-30 minutes. He’s trying to get me to come up there early with them guys. It’s just a good relationship I have with them.”

That’s the Carolina Family aspect that recruits rave about and we are happy to see it continue to trickle down to other recruits.

Hopefully, Jackson can create his legacy like this roster has.

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UNC basketball lands commitment from prized 2023 recruit GG Jackson

GG Jackson, a consensus top-5 prospect in the 2023 class, announced his commitment to UNC basketball on Wednesday afternoon.

The great UNC basketball offseason continued on Wednesday as it received a commitment from a prized class of 2023 prospect, [autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag].

The 6-foot-9 forward committed to UNC over Duke, South Carolina, Auburn, Georgetown and professional options.

Jackson is ranked as the No. 1 player in the Rivals150 class of 2023 rankings and the No. 8 prospect in the 247Sports rankings.

Jackson broke down his decision with 247Sports.

I chose them because they showed how I was the No. 1 priority in the class of 2023 and because coach [Hubert] Davis is an African American coach who knows what he is doing… I knew I wanted to go there for sure when before the Final Four game the coaching staff came down to watch me play normal pick up basketball,

They were always calling and checking up on me and it wasn’t all about basketball and I loved that because with coach Davis, I can joke and laugh but also have serious talk with him and that’s what separated UNC from the rest.

The South Carolina native led the Ridge View Blazers to a 20-11 record and state championship while averaging 22.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game this season.

Jackson joins five-star point guard Simeon Wilcher as the two commitments in North Carolina’s class of 2023.

Below is the scouting profile and analysis of G.G. Jackson from 247Sports National Recruiting Director Eric Bossi:

Pushing 6-foot-9, Jackson has an ideal basketball frame. He’s got long arms and a wiry build that will allow him to add needed strength without costing him athleticism and make no mistake, athleticism is a big part of his game. Jackson is able to fly around the court thanks to his ability to accelerate, change directions and get off the floor in a hurry in tight spaces. Though he still has to get stronger, his athleticism is all functional and he’s able to play through contact and doesn’t need a runway in order to take off. While his athleticism is an important part of his game and what helps to separate him from the pack, he doesn’t have to rely on it.

Over the last year, Jackson has made significant improvements when it comes to his skill level. He is a more than capable jump shooter, has a nice jump hook and he’s become a real threat to face up and attack off the dribble. His passing has some room for growth but he’s improved greatly when it comes to recognizing double teams and finding an open teammate. On the block he has an advantage because of his quickness and while his perimeter ability is what may allow him to create distance between himself and other big men in the class, he has to be careful not to float around out there too much.

When he’s got an even mix of inside and outside to go along with what he’s able to do running the floor in transition, Jackson is a major problem on the offensive end. Defensively, he’s ahead of the curve as well. He’s got great anticipation, moves well laterally and uses his athleticism to his advantage so that he’s an above average rim protector who can also defend in space if he gets caught on a switch and has to defend a smaller player.

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UNC Basketball: Top 2023 target GG Jackson sets decision date

Consensus top-5 player in the 2023 class and top UNC basketball target, GG Jackson, has set his decision date for this week.

The UNC basketball program continues to receive good news this offseason and that could continue later this week with its top target in a future class.

2023 consensus top-5 prospect [autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag], and top UNC target, has set his decision date. He tells On3.com that he will be announcing his decision on Wednesday.

The three teams involved in Jackson’s recruitment the most have been North Carolina, Duke and South Carolina.

The Tar Heels had been rumored to be the favorite for the majority of Jackson’s recruitment, but that seems to have amped up even more in the last month.

North Carolina currently holds all 10 active Crystal Ball predictions on 247 Sports and FutureCast predictions by Rivals for Jackson.

Jackson is ranked No. 1 overall in the class of 2023 by Rivals, No. 6 overall by ESPN and No. 8 overall by 247Sports.

The 6-foot- led the Ridge View Blazers to a 20-11 record and state championship while averaging 22.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game.

UNC currently has one commitment from the 2023 class in five-star point guard [autotag]Simeon Wilcher[/autotag].

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Tar Heels watch 5-star commit over weekend

The UNC basketball program watched a five-star commit plus another big target on Saturday.

As the second evaluation period rolls on for the AAU circuit, the UNC basketball program continues to watch top recruiting targets as well as commits.

After watching a target on Friday night, the Tar Heels were back at it on Saturday watching five-star guard [autotag]Simeon Wilcher[/autotag]. The New Jersey native is the lone commitment in UNC’s 2023 class, but that should change next week, and is ranked as one of the best players overall.

Per Alex Karamanos, UNC head coach Hubert Davis was in Indianapolis to watch Wilcher and G.G. Jackson as they squared off on Saturday:

While Wilcher is committed, Jackson is the top target on UNC’s recruiting board right now. And with UNC trending for Jackson, the Tar Heels 2023 class could ber another special one.

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2023 UNC basketball commit, top target rise in new ESPN Top 100

ESPN released its updated 2023 top 100 rankings and UNC’s lone commit and its top target fall in the top-10.

As the high school basketball season has come to a close and AAU sessions are underway, ESPN unveiled its updated rankings for the class of 2023.

For the class of 2023, UNC basketball commit [autotag]Simeon Wilcher[/autotag] landed in the top-10 at No. 10 in the class. He is ranked as the No. 2 overall point guard behind top-rated prospect in the class DJ Wagner.

Wilcher helped Roselle Catholic to a New Jersey State Championship this season while averaging 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. He had 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the State Title game.

As for a key UNC target in [autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag], the 6-foot-9 forward comes in at No. 6 in the ESPN rankings. He is ranked as the No. 3 overall power forward.

Jackson led the Ridge View Blazers to a 20-11 record and state championship while averaging 22.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. He had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks in Ridge View’s 65-57 win over Fort Dorchester in the state title game.

Jackson is expected to make his college decision ‘any day’ according to multiple reports. The South Carolina native is a heavy UNC lean at the moment and signs continue to point to ultimately choosing the Tar Heels when he makes it official.

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LOOK: Armando Bacot makes public recruiting pitch to 5-star recruit

UNC basketball forward Armando Bacot makes public statement to 2023 five-star prospect GG Jackson.

The UNC basketball program has gone all-in on the top prospect in the class of 2023 and now one of its star players is making a public pitch.

[autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag] — the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 class — is expected to make his announcement any day and the Tar Heels are the favorites to land the prized recruit.

That didn’t stop UNC forward [autotag]Armando Bacot[/autotag] from making a public pitch to the five-star forward, however.

Following his announcement that he was returning to North Carolina for his senior season, Bacot took to social media to make another pitch to Jackson.

“Stop playing and give the people what they want,” Bacot tweeted at Jackson.

South Carolina was the biggest threat to North Carolina in Jackson’s recruitment, but following the firing of head coach Frank Martin, the Gamecocks momentum fell off.

Rivals national writer Rob Cassidy recently gave his insight on the Jackson recruitment.

I’ve been writing about GG Jackson being a UNC lean for a few months. That said, I’m feeling more confident than ever as the final days of the No. 1 overall prospect’s recruitment tick away. Duke has seemed like the biggest threat to steal Jackson away from the Tar Heels since South Carolina made its coaching change, but even that threat seems to be fading.

UNC has one commit in the class of 2023, with five-star point guard [autotag]Simeon Wilcher[/autotag].

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Tar Heels’ top 2023 target GG Jackson ‘backs up’ new ranking

UNC basketball’s top 2023 target GG Jackson had a big performance on the Nike EYBL Circuit during the first live evaluation period.

The first weekend of the 2022 Nike EYBL season is now over and a key UNC basketball target, [autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag], was a standout for his play on the court. 

Jackson, who was just elevated to the No. 1 overall prospect in the Rivals150 class of 2023 rankings, came away with another solid weekend of play down in Orlando.

Rivals national writer Rob Cassidy broke down Jackson’s play and game him the ‘Backing it up’ award.

Backing up a No. 1 ranking is a tall task, but Jackson did just that on Saturday, as he willed his CP3 team to a narrow victory over JL3 Elite with a 15-point 15-rebound performance that showed off his high-level motor and ability to use his upper body to his advantage. The five-star forward grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the contest and was the difference-maker down the stretch. Jackson’s rare combination of size, skill and motor make him a safe bet to stay on top of the Rivals150 for the time being. He’s becoming a better passer and a more motivated defender. His work on the offensive glass on Saturday represented a step forward in what has been an area of weakness in the past.

Recruitment: Jackson plans to announce his commitment as soon as next week. North Carolina seems like the favorite to land his pledge, but Duke is also involved.

Outside of his 15-point and 15-rebound performance, Jackson put up another monster game to cap off the weekend for Team CP3. He went for 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting and added 10 rebounds in the final game of the event to go 4-0 in the first session.

Jackson’s recruitment is expected to end in the next week and North Carolina is the presumed leader as it wraps up.

The Tar Heels have one class of 2023 recruit with five-star point guard [autotag]Simeon Wilcher[/autotag].

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