UNC-Duke hoops rivalry: Where did current Tar Heels rank as high school recruits?

Chapel Fowler, The Fayetteville Observer
·5 min read
Feb 19, 2022; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) shoots over Virginia Tech Hokies guard Nahiem Alleyne (4) during the first half at Cassell Coliseum.
Feb 19, 2022; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) shoots over Virginia Tech Hokies guard Nahiem Alleyne (4) during the first half at Cassell Coliseum.
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Given their respective college basketball histories and résumés, UNC and Duke have been drawing elite high school recruits toward the Triangle for decades. They are two of the sport’s blue bloods, after all.

But how has that shaken out for the 2021-22 season?

With coach Hubert Davis' UNC squad visiting No. 4 Duke on Saturday for outgoing coach Mike Krzyzewski’s last game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, here’s a look at how each current player on the Tar Heels’ roster ranked as a high school recruit (find Duke’s rankings here). All rankings are courtesy of 247Sports’ composite metric.

In total, UNC's roster includes two five-star recruits, nine four-star recruits and two three-star recruits. Its current starting lineup: two five-star recruits and three four-star recruits.

Sophomore G Caleb Love

North Carolina guard Caleb Love (2) celebrates following a play against North Carolina State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022.
North Carolina guard Caleb Love (2) celebrates following a play against North Carolina State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022.

Star rating: Five-star 2020 point guard (0.9956 composite)

High school: Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, Mo.

Class rankings: No. 1 in Missouri, No. 2 point guard, No. 14 overall

Current stats: 33.4 mpg, 15.5 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3.3 apg, 38.8 FG%, 38.4 3PT%, 86.2 FT%

Junior F/C Armando Bacot

North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.
North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.

Star rating: Five-star 2019 center (0.9904 composite)

High school: IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Class rankings: No. 6 in Florida, No. 6 center, No. 27 overall

Current stats: 31.0 mpg, 16.4 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 58.5 FG%, 69.6 FT%

Sophomore F Dawson Garcia

North Carolina's Dawson Garcia (13) makes a 3-point basket in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
North Carolina's Dawson Garcia (13) makes a 3-point basket in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Star rating: Four-star 2020 power forward (0.9856 composite)

High school: Prior Lake High School in Savage, Minn. (Marquette transfer)

Class rankings: No. 2 in Minnesota, No. 4 power forward, No. 37 overall

Current stats: 20.6 mpg, 9.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 40.5 FG%, 37.5 3PT%, 79.2 FT%

UNC announced on Feb. 10 that Garcia would not return to the team this season as he deals with family medical issues.

Sophomore G R.J. Davis

North Carolina guard RJ Davis (4) dribbles during the first half of an exhibition NCAA college basketball game against Elizabeth City State in Chapel Hill, N.C., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
North Carolina guard RJ Davis (4) dribbles during the first half of an exhibition NCAA college basketball game against Elizabeth City State in Chapel Hill, N.C., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Star rating: Four-star 2020 combo guard (0.9813 composite)

High school: Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y.

Class rankings: No. 2 in New York, No. 7 combo guard, No. 50 overall

Current stats: 33.0 mpg, 13.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, 45.8 FG%, 40.3 3PT%, 80.5 FT%

Sophomore G Puff Johnson

Feb 19, 2022; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) and guard Puff Johnson (14) celebrate following a win against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cassell Coliseum.
Feb 19, 2022; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) and guard Puff Johnson (14) celebrate following a win against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cassell Coliseum.

Star rating: Four-star 2020 small forward (0.9764 composite)

High school: Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, Ariz.

Class rankings: No. 5 in Arizona, No. 14 small forward, No. 69 overall

Current stats: 9.5 ppg, 2.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 37.5 FG%, 23.5 3Pt%, 71.4 FT%

Freshman F Dontrez Styles

Feb 12, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Dontrez Styles (3) scores as Florida State Seminoles guard Cam'Ron Fletcher (21) and forward Harrison Prieto (30) defend in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center.
Feb 12, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Dontrez Styles (3) scores as Florida State Seminoles guard Cam'Ron Fletcher (21) and forward Harrison Prieto (30) defend in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center.

Star rating: Four-star 2021 small forward (0.9762 composite)

High school: Kinston High School in Kinston

Class rankings: No. 2 in North Carolina, No. 13 small forward, No. 66 overall

Current stats: 5.3 mpg, 2.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 42.5 FG%, 16.7 3PT%, 53.8 FT%

Freshman G D’Marco Dunn

Jan 29, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard D'Marco Dunn (11) passes the ball as North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Thomas Allen (5) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center.
Jan 29, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard D'Marco Dunn (11) passes the ball as North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Thomas Allen (5) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center.

Star rating: Four-star 2021 shooting guard (0.9746 composite)

High school: Westover High School in Fayetteville

Class rankings: No. 3 in North Carolina, No. 16 shooting guard, No. 68 overall

Current stats: 4.6 mpg, 1.2 ppg, 34.6 FG%, 21.4 3PT%, 33.3 FT%

Senior G Leaky Black

Feb 19, 2022; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Leaky Black (1) drives past Virginia Tech Hokies forward Keve Aluma (22) during the first half at Cassell Coliseum.
Feb 19, 2022; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Leaky Black (1) drives past Virginia Tech Hokies forward Keve Aluma (22) during the first half at Cassell Coliseum.

Star rating: Four-star 2018 small forward (0.9734 composite)

High school: Cox Mill High School in Concord

Class rankings: No. 7 in North Carolina, No. 17 small forward, No. 71 overall

Current stats: 28.2 mpg, 5.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.4 apg, 49.0 FG%, 41.7 3PT%, 87.5 FT%

Redshirt sophomore G Anthony Harris

Nov 23, 2021; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Anthony Harris (0) with the ball in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center.
Nov 23, 2021; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Anthony Harris (0) with the ball in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center.

Star rating: Four-star 2019 combo guard (0.9729 composite)

High school: St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va.

Class rankings: No. 4 in Virginia, No. 10 combo guard, No. 72 overall

Current stats: 11.7 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 48.1 FG%, 60.0 3PT%, 88.9 FT%

UNC announced on Jan. 21 that Harris “will be unavailable to play” for the rest of this season, citing no specifics. Harris continues to practice and participate in other team activities, the school said.

Sophomore G Kerwin Walton

Feb 1, 2022; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Kerwin Walton (24) dribbles against Louisville Cardinals guard Noah Locke (0) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. North Carolina defeated Louisville 90-83.
Feb 1, 2022; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Kerwin Walton (24) dribbles against Louisville Cardinals guard Noah Locke (0) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. North Carolina defeated Louisville 90-83.

Star rating: Four-star 2020 shooting guard (0.9384 composite)

High school: Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minn.

Class rankings: No. 5 in Minnesota, No. 21 shooting guard, No. 133 overall

Current stats: 14.7 mpg, 3.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 36.4 FG%, 35.9 3PT%, 100.0 FT%

Graduate F Brady Manek

Jan 26, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brady Manek (45) with the ball as Virginia Tech Hokies forward David N'Guessan (1) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center.
Jan 26, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brady Manek (45) with the ball as Virginia Tech Hokies forward David N'Guessan (1) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center.

Star rating: Four-star 2017 power forward (0.9303 composite)

High school: Harrah High School in Harrah, Okla. (Oklahoma transfer)

Class rankings: No. 2 in Oklahoma, No. 27 power forward, No. 117 overall

Current stats: 29.3 mpg, 14.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 48.6 FG%, 38.9 3PT%, 67.3 FT%

Redshirt freshman F Will Shaver

Star rating: Three-star 2021 center (0.9210 composite)

High school: Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Ala.

Class rankings: No. 2 in Alabama, No. 21 center, No. 142 overall

Current stats: N/A

Shaver, originally a 2022 recruit, reclassified to 2021, graduated early and enrolled at UNC this semester as a redshirt freshman.

Junior F Justin McKoy

Jan 18, 2022; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Charlie Moore (3) drives the ball around North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin McKoy (22) during the second half at Watsco Center.
Jan 18, 2022; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes guard Charlie Moore (3) drives the ball around North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin McKoy (22) during the second half at Watsco Center.

Star rating: Three-star 2019 small forward (0.8848 composite)

High school: Panther Creek High School in Cary (Virginia tran

Class rankings: No. 10 in North Carolina, No. 52 small forward, No. 229 overall

Current stats: 7.5 mpg, 1.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 22.2 FG%, 22.2 3PT%, 76.9 FT%

Others

Jan 5, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Ryan McAdoo (35) adjusts his mask while sitting on the bench in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion.
Jan 5, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Ryan McAdoo (35) adjusts his mask while sitting on the bench in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion.

Sophomore guard Rob Landry, sophomore guard Creighton Lebo, junior guard Jackson Watkins, junior forward Duwe Farris and redshirt senior forward Ryan McAdoo weren’t ranked in high school.

Chapel Fowler is a recruiting reporter for The Fayetteville Observer and the USA TODAY Network. Reach him by email at cfowler@gannett.com or on Twitter at @chapelfowler.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Where Caleb Love, Armando Bacot, other UNC players ranked as recruits