247Sports Hoops Rankings Overhaul: Big Moves for UNC's 2022 Recruits (2024)

North Carolina's newest commitment, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound point guard from Menomonee Falls (Wis.) High joined the Tar Heel recruiting class on June 23. Trimble, the brother of former UNC wing J.P. Tokoto, picked the Tar Heels over Michigan and Marquette. "I can’t wait to be part of the history of Carolina basketball," Trimble told Inside Carolina. I can’t wait to get on campus. I can’t wait to contribute. And I can’t wait to play in the Smith Center in front of all the Carolina fans. I’ll be ready for it."

After evaluating Trimble further this spring, Branham said: “Trimble has the reputation for high level athleticism, and it’s veryfunctional athleticism, but the thing that has always stood out to me is how under control he plays, knowing what to do in certain scenarios and being a coach on the floor. It’s thatability to run the team - really smart, high IQ player that always plays under control and plays within tempo. And he can also certainly score. He’s a really good kid and a high upside kid that’s going to serve UNC very well in the years to come."

The 6-foot-10, 245-pound big man fromBirmingham (Ala.) Oak Mountain committed toNorth Carolina on June 2 and became the first high school prospect to pledge to head coach Hubert Davis. Shaver chose the Tar Heels over Iowa, Kansas,Purdue, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.Heonly visited one school once the dead period was lifted -- UNC -- and committedupon completion of that visit.

“Shaver is a big, big body," Branham said. "He’s got really good size and a sturdy frame. I could see that he’s really skilled, can stretch floor, has good hands and touch, can score in post. When he gets in even better shape you’ll see an increase in his athleticism and mobility. Solid player who I’d expect to comesee his role will increase each year because he can rebound, make jump shots, and score in post."

One of the biggest jumps in the 247Sports rankings, Lively is now a 247Sports five-star and thus considered one of the truly elite prospects in the 2022 class. A seven-foot, 220-pound big man fromWest Chester (Pa.) Westtown School, Lively has visited North Carolina, Kentucky, and Duke on an official basis and also took an unofficial visit tonearbyPenn State, where his mother works.

“Lively is an absolute big-time talent. He’s pushing 7-foot-2, a great athlete, really mobile, very quick off his feet, coordinated,"Branham said."He’s also a big-time rim protector, knows how to anchor a defense. I like how he stays in his role. His offensive ability right now is he can score in the post, is a dangerous lob-catching threat and can stretch floor — it’s a developing face up game. The thing is, he’s far from a finished product. He’s a top 5 elite talent with a tremendous amount of upside."

The long, 6-foot-9, 210-pound big man fromGary (Ind.) West Side took an official visit to North Carolina on June 2. The top 25 prospecthas logged an official visit toStanford and unofficial visits to Marquette and Purdue.

“I see Washington's best college fit in that stretch ‘5' role," Branham said. "He’s skilled, smart, makes shots from the mid-range out to three. He’s got a face up game. As he gets stronger, he projects as a stretch ‘5,’ a face up ‘5' who can pick and pop and put the ball on the ground a bit.Looked this month like a good not great athlete, which will be something to watch since he’s coming off an injury so we’ll see how that tracks in July."

A 6-foot-8, 215-pound standout fromGrand Island (Neb.) High. Traudt is fresh off an official visit to UNC (June 27). He also took official visits to Michigan State, Virginia, and Nebraska, along with an unofficial visit to Creighton. A versatile forward, Traudt fits what Carolina and Hubert Davis want fromthe '4' position.

“First thing that jumps out about Traudt is his size for his position. Good frame, will fit out well," Branham said. "With his IQ and skillset, he can impact the game in just about every area. Does a lot of things well — jack of all trades. In college I’d project him as more of a ‘4' than a ‘3.’ If a program aims to space the floor, you can put him in perfect situations for that. He can impact the game in all the kinds of areas that you’re seeing the way new ‘4's are used - on the perimeter, pick and pop, and and he can really pass."

The 6-foot-7Elkton (Va.) East Rockinghamrecord-breaking scorerearned a UNC offer on June 21 after the staff watched himplay in person. Nickel has not visited UNC yet, but plans to do so in the fall. He is also consideringButler, Iowa, LSU, NC State, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.

“Nickel's a tough player. That’s what stood out to me right away," Branham said. "He has size. Tough, strong, skilled, and a really good perimeter shooter. Not a burst/speed guy, but knows how to get to his spots and create using what he has. Coupling that approach with that skillset produces a lot of points."

No one benefitted more from the June evaluation period than Cam Whitmore, who made a huge jump in the new 247Sports rankings. Whitmore now checks in as a high four-star and borderline five-star, and his stock may not be done climbing. Athletic, dynamic, and physical, the 6-foot-6, 220-poundSevern (Md.) Archbishop Spalding forward has an array of schools to choose from, and that list will likely continue to grow. He's taken unofficial visits to Georgetown, Penn State, Pitt, and Villanova and an official visit to Maryland. Whitmore told Inside Carolina that he hopes to take an official visit to Chapel Hill in the fall.

“Whitmore doesn’t have the ideal height, but he’s very strong, is an elite athlete, and possesses a high motor. Often guys have the motor but not the instincts, but he’s got both," Branham said. "He knows how to play hard and anticipate. And he's just a monster of a rebounder. He has the ball skills to face you up, and is a willing and smart passer out of that position. He can be a nightmare mismatch as a small ball '4.'Ultimately I imagine him as a small ball'4' in college, as he can do a tremendous amount of damage from that position.If he continues what he did this June, he’ll make another rankings jump in the near future."

A 6-foot-2 point guard whose family resides in Concord, N.C. but now plays at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, Bradley had visits lined up through the month June. He visited Michigan on June 4, Alabama on June 11, North Carolina on June 15, and Arizona on June 18. Bradley is looking to make a decision in September, and the outlook of his UNC recruitment remains in question after the Tar Heels got a commitment from Trimble.

“Facilitator. Bradley knows how to run a team. He gets his teammates involved and is a capable scorer that loves to get downhill," Branham said. "But he’s wired to facilitate, run the team, make plays for his teammates. He has a high floor because of that and is going to be a really good college player."

A 6-foot-6, 200-pound forward fromAkron (Ohio) Buchtel, Livingston was offered by Hubert Davis and UNC on May 4. The elite prospect hold offers from all the blue bloods in college basketball including Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and the Tar Heels. In June, Livingston took official visits to check out the Jayhawks (June 11) and the Wildcats (June 18). He's expected to consider professional options out of high school as well.

“Livingston is a physical, explosive athlete, a power driver, and a three-level scorer," Branham said. "He’s great in transition. When his motor is running, he’s a big-time defender."

A Kansas native who has starred the last three years atMission (Kan.) Bishop Miege -- but will transfer to Wichita (Kan.) Sunrise Christian Academy this fall --North Carolina offered Mitchell on Sept. 11 by former UNC head coach Roy Williams. That offer was reaffirmed by Hubert Davis this spring, and Mitchell told UNC that he intends to visit Chapel Hill this fall. At 6-foot-8, 205-pounds, Mitchel is considered to be one of the best forwards in the country. This June, Mitchell has made official visits to UCLA, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Duke.

“Mitchell is a really skilled hybrid forward," Branham said. "I like him more at the ‘4' than the ‘3,' but he can play the ‘3' because of his ball skills. As he gets stronger, his skillset and versatility will stand out even more. He’s a smart, versatile player that can defend multiple positions."

A 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward who attends Asheville (N.C.) Christian Academy, Green is one of the UNC targets that dropped the most in the new 247Sports rankings. UNC offered Green on Dec. 10, and Hubert Davis reaffirmed the offer in April. Green's taken official visits to NC State, Wake Forest, and Tennessee.He was expected to visit UNC in June but that trip was postponed to August.

“I think Green is more of a ‘5’ man than a ‘4.' He’s gotten in much better shape, which is a credit to him, and his athleticism has improved because of that," Branham said. "He has good hands, plays tough around the rim, is a capable face up shooter and a valuable passer. He’s been playing harder and has shown to be a willing rebounder."