UNC Basketball: Breaking down Tar Heels 2019 recruiting class

After losing six of the team’s top rotation players this offseason, UNC Basketball will need their incoming freshmen to contribute right away. These four talented recruits can do just that.

Cameron Johnson, Luke Maye, and Kenny Williams all saw their UNC Basketball careers end with graduation. Nassir Little and Coby White opted to forego sophomore seasons and declared for the draft as the latest one-and-dones at UNC. Seventh Woods surprised everyone and announced his intention to transfer, ultimately leaving for South Carolina, his home state.

That’s six players — all key contributors to last year’s Tar Heel squad that went 29-7, won a share of the ACC regular-season title and advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament — who are now gone.

How does UNC make up for the lost production?

Well, by bringing in a quartet of talented recruits.

Roy Williams ended the recruiting hunt with one of his best classes to date, bringing in three-star (and former four-star) point guard Jeremiah Francis, four-star combo guard Anthony Harris, five-star center Armando Bacot, and — the gem of the class and the nation’s top guard prospect — five-star “combo” guard Cole Anthony.

A coup for Williams and the Tar Heels, who’ll add the services of these four freshmen along with a pair of talented grad transfers in Charleston Southern’s Christian Keeling and William & Mary’s Justin Pierce.

Similar to last year’s recruiting class with White and Little, the 2019 class will need to step in as key contributors, both in the starting lineup and off the bench, with only a few main rotation players returning this year. Spearheaded by Anthony and Bacot, the 2019-20 Tar Heels will be quite the collection of talent and personalities.

Here’s a quick breakdown of all four talented freshmen that will be stepping foot on the Carolina hardwood this fall.