UNC Basketball: Impact of suprise commitment from 5-star C Walker Kessler

Five-star class of 2020 big man Walker Kessler surprisingly committed to UNC Basketball this weekend. How does it impact them and the other teams involved with him?

Recruiting in college athletics can sometimes take unexpected turns for some of the top prospects. Some can be very dramatic and not end how many predicted to go. That seems to be the case of Walker Kessler, a five-star big man in the 2020 recruiting class who late Sunday night made the surprising decision to commit to UNC Basketball.

Kessler was with the Tar Heels this past weekend on an official visit, the fourth of his five allotted to him. Of his other finalists, he had already met with Auburn, Michigan and Duke, while slated to go out west to see Gonzaga in early October. The Atlanta native’s overall recruitment has gone through several developments, including not having local Georgia among the first list of finalists.

It was Auburn who first was viewed as a favorite according to several national recruiting analysts before the Blue Devils recently getting the lead nod. The Tar Heels were always in the mix but never being viewed as the program to beat for Kessler’s services. Something powerful had to have happened during the official visit in Chapel Hill for the five-star prospect to commit before seeing Gonzaga.

Either way, North Carolina will gladly accept a consensus top-20 overall recruit in the 2020 class, who is one of – if not the most skilled big man overall. He can play out the gate as a freshman and have a major impact, possibly only being around for just one season before going pro.

The news came out late at night but the overall impact reaches inside and outside UNC Basketball, including what rival Duke does next. Here’s a look at what Kessler to the Tar Heels means for everyone that was involved.