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UNC Basketball: 5-star Cole Anthony solidifies Tar Heels backcourt for 2019-20

By Bryan Mauro

FORT MYERS, FL - DECEMBER 21: Cole Anthony #3 of Oak Hill Academy looks on against Imhotep Charter High School during the City Of Palms Classic at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 21, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FL - DECEMBER 21: Cole Anthony #3 of Oak Hill Academy looks on against Imhotep Charter High School during the City Of Palms Classic at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 21, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 27: Cole Anthony #50 of Oak Hill Academy in Virginia drives to the basket during the 2019 McDonald’s High School Boys All-American Game on March 27, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 27: Cole Anthony #50 of Oak Hill Academy in Virginia drives to the basket during the 2019 McDonald’s High School Boys All-American Game on March 27, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

How Anthony fits with current roster

As early as it is in the offseason, every roster in America is in flux, and any prediction would be based on speculation of what is currently known. What is currently known about North Carolina’s roster is that despite the losses of Luke Maye and Cameron Johnson to graduation, and freshman phenoms Coby White and Nassir Little to the draft. The Tar Heels currently have some holes to fill.

Armando Bacot joins Anthony as an incoming freshman and Bacot will lock down the middle and stabilize the center position for North Carolina. Coach Williams has not had a dominant center or at least a center who he could rely on for many productive minutes. Even though Bacot has yet to play a game, he fits the bill of a guy who can be relied upon to provide productive minutes.

The remainder of the roster currently has Leaky Black, Sterling Manley, Garrison Brooks, Seventh Woods, and Brandon Huffman returning from the players who made an impact a season ago. The returning roster shows how badly Anthony is going to be needed for scoring and to lead the offense. Most of the scoring from a season ago is gone. Outside of the Anthony commit, North Carolina appears to have reinforcements on the way to help them return to the top half of the ACC.

The incoming freshman guard just committed today, and the rest of the week shapes up well for Tar Heel fans. Anthony Harris, once a Virginia Tech commit, decided to leave the Hokies once coach Buzz Williams left for Texas A&M. The North Carolina administration pounced early and was able to secure an official visit. Harris is another guard and with a commitment would help solidify the backcourt and go towards solving one of the problems the Tar Heels currently have in the backcourt.

Harris is an incoming freshman and may be raw and may not fully develop until mid-way through the year. The second visitor this week is a graduate transfer from Charleston Southern who is a pure scorer. Christian Keeling another guard, who looks likely to commit to North Carolina on his official. If he commits, he will be immediately eligible and gives North Carolina tremendous firepower to play with.

Next. Biggest ACC recruiting needs. dark

Anthony is the next guard to play in Chapel Hill, who will lead them to the NCAA tournament and then will shine in the NBA. The Tar Heels have gotten five-star players before but if the hype is any indication, they may have gotten the next great college superstar.

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