The 2023 recruiting cycle in college basketball is all but complete aside from some transfer portal decisions. One of the last big decisions that affects the 2023 class went against the Tar Heels.
Five-star recruit Jarin Stevenson committed to Alabama over North Carolina and Virginia last week. With his decision, he opted to reclassify into 2023 and join the Crimson Tide right away.
With that decision, Gary Parrish of CBS Sports updated his Top 25 and 1 for the upcoming season. There was some movement in the rankings, but North Carolina stayed put at No. 22 overall:
This ranking is based on the Tar Heels returning two of the top three scorers – R.J. Davis and Armando Bacot – from a team that spent much of the season ranked in the top 30 at KenPom.com. The addition of Harrison Ingram, Cormac Ryan and Jae’Lyn Withers via the transfer portal, and five-star prospect Elliot Cadeau via reclassification, should provide Hubert Davis with enough to return to the 2024 NCAA Tournament after UNC missed it in 2023.
North Carolina is looking to improve on its 20-13 record a year ago, which kept it out of the NCAA Tournament. It will do so with a revamped roster after eight departures to the transfer portal.
It’s a tough task for Hubert Davis’ team but it has the talent to do it.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.