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NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Breaking down No. 1 recruit Anthony Edwards’ final 8 teams

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 25: The Duke Blue Devils cheerleaders carry their schools flags on to the court prior to the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional against the Kansas Jayhawks at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - MARCH 25: The Duke Blue Devils cheerleaders carry their schools flags on to the court prior to the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional against the Kansas Jayhawks at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 22: Coby White #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives against Kerwin Roach II #12 of the Texas Longhorns during the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 22, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 22: Coby White #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives against Kerwin Roach II #12 of the Texas Longhorns during the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 22, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)

North Carolina

The Tar Heels will have to replace a ton of talent from this season’s Final Four contender. Seniors Luke Maye, Kenny Williams, and Cameron Johnson will all graduate, along with top-3 NBA Draft pick Nassir Little likely to depart after his freshman year. A huge question will be the fate of star freshman combo guard Coby White, currently leading the team in scoring. His own draft stock has risen and he could end up leaving as well.

If that happens, North Carolina will have to do some retooling. Seventh Woods would become the lead ball handler, while sophomore Rechon Black would fill in for the backcourt depth. But neither of them look like elite scorers, so bringing in a star like Edwards would fill in many needs on next year’s team.

Edwards wouldn’t be the only five-star commit joining the Tar Heels, as top-20 overall center Armondo Bacot has already announced his intentions to play for the program. That would set up a great 1-2 punch between Bacot and Edwards that would once again make UNC viable nationally. Three-star point guard Jeremiah Francis also has committed for the 2019 class.

Even if White returns, his ability to play the point guard spot would allow Edwards to play the natural shooting guard role. And with the quality frontcourt that the Tar Heels are expected to have, it’ll provide room for Edwards to have a huge freshman campaign if he chooses to go there.