While the focus for Carolina Basketball, is on tomorrow’s must-win against arch-rival Duke, yesterday, 247Sports updated their rankings for players in the 2024 class, and there was some significant movement for the players that have committed to UNC. Ever since Hubert Davis was hired, the 2024 class was always going to be an important one for Davis, as he’s still trying to put his stamp on the program, as even though he took Carolina to the Final Four last season, it was a group recruited by Roy Williams, outside the transfers that he brought in. The good news is that Davis has proven to excel as a recruiter, with the crop of freshmen he brought in for this season, how the 2023 class came together, and the work he’s done in the all-important 2024 class. Here’s how each player fared in the latest recruiting updates.
Ian Jackson:
When Jackson committed to Carolina, he was ranked as the No. 2 overall player in the class, but in the updated rankings, he checked in as the No. 5 player, while still being considered as the No. 2 shooting guard in the class, and the No. 1 player from the state of New York. Jackson is a 6-4 guard, weighing 185 pounds, and will excel at finishing at the rim, while also having the ability to score in the midrange, and from the perimeter, making him a three-level scorer.
Elliot Cadeau:
Along with Ian Jackson, Elliot Cadeau is also a five-star recruit and the point guard that might best fit the way that Hubert Davis wants to play. Cadeau checked in as the No. 11 overall player in the latest ranking, the No. 2 point guard in the class, and the No. 1 player from Missouri. When Cadeau committed to UNC, he was considered to be the No. 1 point guard in the class, so like Jackson, Cadeau has dipped in the latest rankings, although not as much as he did. Still, Cadeau is a big-time recruit, that is poised to do big-time things upon arriving in Chapel Hill.
Drake Powell:
At the time of Powell’s commitment, which was the first in the 2024 cycle, didn’t get much as attention as Jackson and Cadeau, outside of the fact that he’s from Pittsboro, NC. Well after the latest rankings, he has the attention of everybody, as Powell jumped from the No. 56 player in the class, and the way up to No. 19. He also has gone from being a four-star prospect to a five-star prospect, giving Hubert Davis, three five-stars in the 2024 class. This season, he’s averaged over 18 points, nearly 7 rebounds, and handing out 4 assists per game, as he’s led his high school to the 3A regional finals this weekend. His development is the biggest reason why he’s jumped so far up the rankings, and with the AAU summer still to come, there’s no telling just how high the in-state product can climb.
James Brown:
When James Brown committed to Carolina to start the new year, it was a commitment that came seemingly out of nowhere, even though UNC had been recruiting him, after securing the commitment from Jalen Washington, who played on the same AAU team as Brown. At the time of Brown’s commitment, he was ranked as the No. 27 player in the class, and the No. 5 center overall. Well just like Cadea and Jackson, Brown has dipped in the rankings, as he’s now considered to be the No. 50 overall player in the class, and the No. 7 center.
Even with three of the four commits falling in the latest recruiting rankings, this is still a very good class, that currently features three five-star commits, and a fellow four-star commit that is still a work in progress. This core is still going to be the backbone of Hubert Davis’s program, and he’s not done yet as he’s still recruiting the likes of Jarin Stevenson, Trentyn Flowers and Boogie Fland.
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