The Tar Heels are still searching for their first member of the 2025 recruiting class and one of their top targets is closing in on a decision that could give them just that.
On Tuesday, 247Sports Travis Branham said on the College Basketball Show podcastf that 2025 5✮ SG Jasper Johnson is down to two schools and is expected to announce his commitment by the end of August.
"The decision will come before the end of this month,” Branham siad. “Over the last few weeks, this has been a three-man race between Alabama, North Carolina and Kentucky. Now, it's a two-man race between Alabama and North Carolina. I would classify Kentucky as a distant third. I'm still tipping my hat to the Crimson Tide as the leader in this one, but North Carolina is within striking distance. The Tar Heels could flip this thing around before the official commitment."
This is huge news for the Tar Heels who would love to add a player of Johnson’s caliber to replace RJ Davis when he departs following this season. Kentucky was the longtime favorite for the Lexington, KY native, but the move of John Calipari to Arkansas opened the door here and Hubert Davis and Nate Oats capitalized.
In order for the Tar Heels to beat out the Crimson Tide, they will likely have to be willing to match what he will be getting NIL-wise from them, something that hasn’t necessarily been the calling card of this staff so far in this era of recruiting. Johnson being as highly-rated a prospect as he is at a position of need may drive them to lean on that a little more this time around, though.
The Four Corners Podcast:
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