NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Where will 2019 prospect Armando Bacot land?

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on from the sideline against the Lipscomb Bisons during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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DURHAM, NC – MARCH 03: (L-R) Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils talks to head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels before their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Duke and North Carolina (The heavy favorites)

The Blue Devils and Tar Heels have been duking it out during the regular season 2-3 times a year and every battle is must-watch. Other battles between are going on, including for Bacot. Multiple recruiting sites have both of these teams as the top-2 choices for Bacot, with several picking the other as the perceived “favorite”.

This is still an early process but Bacot’s recruitment will be impacted heavily on what other star frontcourt prospects plan on doing. North Carolina is currently gunning for James Wiseman, while Duke has eyes for Isaiah Stewart. Both programs are in the running for Vernon Carey as well. It’s true that Bacot can play with any of these players on the court at the same time but don’t forget the players already on those respective rosters.

The Blue Devils will likely have two senior big men on their roster for 2019-20 in Javin DeLaurier and Marques Bolden. Each of them has shown flashes of great potential in limited time and with just Zion Williamson joining them in the frontcourt, each of them will have plenty of opportunities to shine on the big stage. If that happens, it may limit just one five-star big to join the following season.

The Tar Heels are in a similar situation with three bigs (Sterling Manley, Garrison Brooks, and Brandon Huffman) who the staff is still high on. Luke Maye and Nassir Little will be gone after next season, and Roy Williams history of success with bigs is alluring to high school players. But if any of the underclassmen bigs breakout, it’ll be an interesting situation to watch going forward.

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If you’re a fan of VCU, Georgia, or Oklahoma State, you want the non-senior big men for Duke and North Carolina to have great years. It might be the only thing that’ll give them a chance to land Bacot. Will this recruiting end up like many others for a five-star big man? Or is another recruiting shocker coming on the way?

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