I recently received the information that The University of North Carolina forward, Reggie Bullock, decided to skip his senior season and enter the NBA draft. As a fan of the Tar Heels, I initially thought nooooooooo! What the hell is he thinking, but after thinking about it for a minute I thought this might be a good thing for UNC. Addition by subtraction.
The number one high school basketball recruit in the country is 6’8″ senior forward Andrew Wiggins. Some call him the best prospect since Lebron James and he is still one of the last top basketball recruits to not sign with a college. He has narrowed his choices down to Kentucky, Kansas, Florida State, and North Carolina. Nobody knows where he will sign but let me tell you how North Carolina just increased its chances.
I’m going to start by telling you why he might choose one of the other schools but why he shouldn’t.
Kentucky was a hot choice about a month ago. They had signed the number one point guard in the country, the number one two guard in the country as well as the number one center in the country. You add the number two shooting guard and a top power forward and once again John Calipari had recruited another top class, but it seemed like it was missing that one player. That player could have been Wiggins, but a couple a couple of weeks ago Kentucky signed number 3 recruit and number one power forward Julius Randle. That singing gave Kentucky arguably the greatest incoming class ever only challenged by The Fab Five. Wiggins could sign putting an end to the arguably conversation but will he be content with just fitting in. With the Harrison Twins in the back court and Randle up front it might not be enough balls and shine to go around. I hear that Wiggins isn’t a fame whore but I think if he went to Kentucky he probably wouldn’t be able to put up the kind of numbers that comes with a dominating season. Now that wouldn’t affect his draft status but I think Wiggins would want to be a star and have a Carmelo Anthony type freshmen year.
So he could go to Florida State where he would most definitely be the man. You take that plus the fact that both his parents went there and his high school team and best friend, Xavier Rathan Mates has already signed there and you would think they are the front runners. The question I have is if they have enough around him to win? He could have a Kevin Durant type season but I think he wants to win more.
The Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks win the Big 12 every year and are always a national contender. McLemore had a great season as a freshman and Wiggins could feel like he could reproduce that type of season. The difference is McLemore was surrounded by a lot of veterans and Wiggins wouldn’t be. He would be leading a class of young guys with not as much talent as Kentucky. I don’t think he could win there.
So that leaves the perfect spot that just got even more perfect with the departure of Bullock. Wiggins probably looked at the Tar Heel tradition and thought he would like to be apart of it. He then also looked at the roster and thought there is already a guy his height that plays the same position who also would be a senior. Roy could’ve answered this problem by playing small again with Wiggins or Bullock playing the four and McAdoo playing the five but he really doesn’t like to play that way. Now with Bullock gone he doesn’t have to. He could bring in Wiggins and still play his traditional style of basketball. Wiggins would also be in a perfect situation where he would get to be the star but also have talent and experience around him. Marcus Paige is a sophomore who was once a McDonald’s All American who should improve vastly in his 2nd season. Joining him in the backcourt is P.J. Hairs ton he lead the team in scoring as a sophomore and should be better. James McAdoo was a top prospect who struggled at times in his first season as the man but if he comes back for his junior season he wouldn’t have to be the man any more because North Carolina has lots of options at center. Including two McDonald’s All American’s Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks. The Tar Heels also return future star and former McDonald’s All American Brice Johnson who could play center or power forward if McAdoo decides to leave. All in all North Carolina has the most to Offer Wiggins. Tradition, the chance to win the title, and the opportunity to be the man thanks to Bullocks questionable decision.
