Recruiting as of 4/15/25

[Lennys Tap]

My comments are not about RJ's ability.

Under the old Carolina approach where Roy focused on four year kids, I would say yes RJ would get a lot of opportunity.  His ability is real and that is why Marquette, Georgetown and Pitt went ga ga over him. 

Roy for competitive reasons, has embraced the one and done model. Look at who they are focusing on this year. He has also now embraced grad transfers with the success of Cam Johnson.

So the problem for RJ ( or any player of his rough ability level relative to the cant miss one and done types) is that every single year for the next 4 years he is going to have to compete for his job with a can't miss type recruit like a Cole Anthony. As it is RJ is coming into the class with Caleb Love, who can do everything RJ can do and is bigger and more athletic.

Finally consider the other guys on the UNC  roster already who are actually very solid players. Just becomes very hard to gain traction when you are  the 10th or 11th guy anywhere.

We'll see how it plays out. Don't think this kid stays at Chapel hill for 2 years of garbage time, let alone 4. Time will tell.

[1SE]

Based off 247/Scout on original class

Wojo-
2020:
Justin Lewis- 76
Osasere ighadaro- 74
Symir Torrence- 51

2019:
Joey Hauser- 52

2017:
Markus Howard- 25

2016:
Sam Hauser-83
Brendan Bailey- 92

2015:
Henry Ellenson- 9
Haanif Cheatham- 75

2014:
Sandy Cohen- 76

Buzz-

2014:
Ahmed Hill- 62

2013:
Jajuan Johnson- 32
Deonte Burton- 50
Duane Wilson- 59

2012:
Steve Taylor Jr- 96

2011:
Juan Anderson- 70

2010:
Vander Blue- 28
Jamail Jones- 99

2009:
Junior Cadougan- 70
Jeronne Maymon- 72
Erik Williams- 90

Crean-

2006:
Lazar Hayward- 75

2005:
Dominic James- 51
Jerel McNeal- 71
Wesley Matthews- 85

2004:
Dameon Mason- 36

2002:
Steve Novak- 62

2001:
Travis Diener- 37, 48, 39, 55 depending ranking couldn't find scout/247

2000:
Odarty Blankson- Top 100 N/A Rank

Wonder how many Association minutes the 84 guys ranked ahead of Wes logged...

[MattyWarrior]

Thanks for the list, we have had some highly ranked players here, hope we can add two more 4* in this class!

[Galway Eagle]

Looking at that list I think if Joey has held onto his initial ranking and Symir and Markus it'd be more noticeable that the recruiting did take a small step forward, maybe not to the level Guru was expecting but still a little bit.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

BS.

Enlightening.  What exactly did I say that was "BS"?  I'd love to hear some actual thoughts on the matter rather than the useless one-liners you're known for around here. 

[Marcus92]

Looking only at high school recruits gives you an incomplete picture. Traditional and graduate transfers (including Matt Carlino, Katin Reinhardt, Andrew Rowsey and Ed Morrow) have played just as a big of a role on the team as highly ranked prospects. That continues this year with Koby McEwen and Jayce Johnson.

Katin, BTW, was ranked #39 by 247Sports in the Class of 2012. He had offers from Arizona, Gonzaga, Florida and Kentucky, among others. Ed (#110) fell just outside the Top 100.

Koby and Jayce were both unranked coming out of high school. While a Top 50 ranked freshman guard or center may have greater potential down the road, I'll take Koby and Jayce on the court this season hands down. When it comes to experience, strength, maturity or skill, they're simply more developed as players.

[Galway Eagle]

Looking only at high school recruits gives you an incomplete picture. Traditional and graduate transfers (including Matt Carlino, Katin Reinhardt, Andrew Rowsey and Ed Morrow) have played just as a big of a role on the team as highly ranked prospects. That continues this year with Koby McEwen and Jayce Johnson.

Katin, BTW, was ranked #39 by 247Sports in the Class of 2012. He had offers from Arizona, Gonzaga, Florida and Kentucky, among others. Ed (#110) fell just outside the Top 100.

Koby and Jayce were both unranked coming out of high school. While a Top 50 ranked freshman guard or center may have greater potential down the road, I'll take Koby and Jayce on the court this season hands down. When it comes to experience, strength, maturity or skill, they're simply more developed as players.

Jayce was 87?

https://247sports.com/player/jayce-johnson-34073/

[MU82]

Looking only at high school recruits gives you an incomplete picture. Traditional and graduate transfers (including Matt Carlino, Katin Reinhardt, Andrew Rowsey and Ed Morrow) have played just as a big of a role on the team as highly ranked prospects. That continues this year with Koby McEwen and Jayce Johnson.

Yep, and obviously the same could be said (and more) of some of the non-prep talent Buzz brought in, especially Jae, Jimmy, DJO and Luke.

I get why folks don't include all of the above when talking about HS recruits, but I don't get why some are so easily willing to dismiss them as if transfers and JUCOs "don't count" on a coach's record when it comes to bringing in talent. I, for one, am very glad that Jae, Jimmy, DJO, Luke, Katin, Rowsey and Morrow are/were Warriors.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Yep, and obviously the same could be said (and more) of some of the non-prep talent Buzz brought in, especially Jae, Jimmy, DJO and Luke.

I get why folks don't include all of the above when talking about HS recruits, but I don't get why some are so easily willing to dismiss them as if transfers and JUCOs "don't count" on a coach's record when it comes to bringing in talent. I, for one, am very glad that Jae, Jimmy, DJO, Luke, Katin, Rowsey and Morrow are/were Warriors.

+1 its about recruiting a team year in and year out.  There is no 'proper' way to win.

[Goose]

Hopefully Davis was not the part of the good news Big Daddy shared a week or so ago. Hope BD can share some more info soon.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Enlightening.  What exactly did I say that was "BS"?  I'd love to hear some actual thoughts on the matter rather than the useless one-liners you're known for around here.

I disagree with your negative comments about Marquette.  Wojo has proven to be a great recruiter.  Marquette is and has been an elite basketball school for more than 50 years with a long list of elite athletes and NBA stars.  Please don't knock the program.

[Pakuni]

Hopefully Davis was not the part of the good news Big Daddy shared a week or so ago. Hope BD can share some more info soon.

Here's what BD said:
"Good news coming. Not ready to prep yet, but soon.  Some times it is better to be the Hunter."

Reading between the lines, I'm guessing he's referring to Tyrese Hunter, who seems to be a top target for 2021.

[MuMark]

He also said this
"I think RJ and Dawson say yes."

So I guess he was right........RJ said Yes.......just not to MU.


Garcia TBD

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I disagree with your negative comments about Marquette.  Wojo has proven to be a great recruiter.  Marquette is and has been an elite basketball school for more than 50 years with a long list of elite athletes and NBA stars.  Please don't knock the program.

I am not "knocking the program".  I am an enormous fan of the program, literally have missed less than 5 games in the past decade, and regularly get a on a plane to go watch them in person in Milwaukee and on the road. 

That being said, I can also look at the program with a realistic view.  It is a very good program, but it is definitely not "elite". Buzz had it knocking on the door of elite, but we've obviously taken a step back since then having not won an NCAA game since 2013.  Wojo has done a good job recruiting - but he has failed to land any elite recruits since Markus, and when Markus reclassified, he was no longer "elite", though he obviously turned out to be one of the better college players in that class.  This isn't knocking the program - these are accurate observations and frankly, there is no reason for anyone to get defensive or butthurt about those comments. 

Can the program continue to grow and develop into a consistent top 25 type team?  Yah.  I think Wojo definitely has the ability to do that if he sticks around.  Things are pointed in the right direction.  But it also OK to take a step back and look at the program without your homer glasses on.   

[Galway Eagle]

I am not "knocking the program".  I am an enormous fan of the program, literally have missed less than 5 games in the past decade, and regularly get a on a plane to go watch them in person in Milwaukee and on the road. 

That being said, I can also look at the program with a realistic view.  It is a very good program, but it is definitely not "elite". Buzz had it knocking on the door of elite, but we've obviously taken a step back since then having not won an NCAA game since 2013.  Wojo has done a good job recruiting - but he has failed to land any elite recruits since Markus, and when Markus reclassified, he was no longer "elite", though he obviously turned out to be one of the better college players in that class.  This isn't knocking the program - these are accurate observations and frankly, there is no reason for anyone to get defensive or butthurt about those comments. 

Can the program continue to grow and develop into a consistent top 25 type team?  Yah.  I think Wojo definitely has the ability to do that if he sticks around.  Things are pointed in the right direction.  But it also OK to take a step back and look at the program without your homer glasses on.

Joey was an elite recruit before he got injured. Wojos brought in three "elite recruits" based on ranking only two of them had statuses change that made it look otherwise

[Marcus92]

Jayce was 87?

https://247sports.com/player/jayce-johnson-34073/

Good catch. I overlooked that.

[SaveOD238]

Wonder how many Association minutes the 84 guys ranked ahead of Wes logged...

Danny Green, Mario Chalmers, CJ Miles, Gerald Green, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, and Josh McRoberts all were ranked ahead of Wes (all in the top 30) and all had roughly equivalent, if not slightly better NBA careers than Wes.  But there certainly aren't any major standouts or perennial All Stars from that class.

[MU82]

Danny Green, Mario Chalmers, CJ Miles, Gerald Green, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, and Josh McRoberts all were ranked ahead of Wes (all in the top 30) and all had roughly equivalent, if not slightly better NBA careers than Wes.  But there certainly aren't any major standouts or perennial All Stars from that class.

PLAYER ........ PPG ... RPG ... APG ... FG% ... 3% ... eFG%
Matthews ..... 14 ...... 3 ........ 2 ..... 42.5 ... 38.2 ... 52.2
D. Green ...... 9 ........ 4 ........ 2 ..... 42.4 ... 40.4 ... 54.9
Chalmers ...... 9 ....... 3 ......... 4 ..... 41.7 ... 35.1 ... 49.8
Miles ........... 10 ...... 2 ......... 1 ..... 41.2 ... 35.9 ... 50.1
G. Green ...... 10 ...... 3 ......... 1 ..... 41.7 ... 36.1 ... 50.4
Ellis ............. 18 ...... 4 ......... 5 ..... 45.1 ... 41.3 ... 48.0
Williams ....... 14 ...... 2 ......... 3 ..... 42.1 ... 34.9 ... 48.2
McRoberts ..... 5 ....... 4 ......... 2 ..... 46.3 ... 34.0 ... 51.3

Aside from saying that McRoberts certainly isn't in the same league at Wes (or most of the others named), and Chalmers, Miles and G. Green also fell well short of what Wes has done, I'll let others look at the numbers and draw their own conclusions.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I am not "knocking the program".  I am an enormous fan of the program, literally have missed less than 5 games in the past decade, and regularly get a on a plane to go watch them in person in Milwaukee and on the road. 

That being said, I can also look at the program with a realistic view.  It is a very good program, but it is definitely not "elite". Buzz had it knocking on the door of elite, but we've obviously taken a step back since then having not won an NCAA game since 2013.  Wojo has done a good job recruiting - but he has failed to land any elite recruits since Markus, and when Markus reclassified, he was no longer "elite", though he obviously turned out to be one of the better college players in that class.  This isn't knocking the program - these are accurate observations and frankly, there is no reason for anyone to get defensive or butthurt about those comments. 

Can the program continue to grow and develop into a consistent top 25 type team?  Yah.  I think Wojo definitely has the ability to do that if he sticks around.  Things are pointed in the right direction.  But it also OK to take a step back and look at the program without your homer glasses on.

I'll be honest, I think the "Buzz had us knocking on the door of elite" line is one of the bigger myths that we tell ourselves. Buzz' best three years were 11 seed, 3 seed, 3 seed. It depends on your definition of elite....but I think most elite teams would consider that a pretty meh stretch and that was our peak. Then Blue declares unexpectedly and the whole house of cards comes crashing down. That's not what an almost elite program looks like to me. Don't get me wrong, I think if Blue and Buzz stayed, I liked the trajectory and could have maybe gotten there one day, I just don't think we were knocking on the door quite yet.

[Galway Eagle]

I'll be honest, I think the "Buzz had us knocking on the door of elite" line is one of the bigger myths that we tell ourselves. Buzz' best three years were 11 seed, 3 seed, 3 seed. It depends on your definition of elite....but I think most elite teams would consider that a pretty meh stretch and that was our peak. Then Blue declares unexpectedly and the whole house of cards comes crashing down. That's not what an almost elite program looks like to me. Don't get me wrong, I think if Blue and Buzz stayed, I liked the trajectory and could have maybe gotten there one day, I just don't think we were knocking on the door quite yet.

I think it's the feeling of where we were when DJ got injured combined with 12 & 13 combined with ignoring just how average 2011 was while still having tournament success.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I'll be honest, I think the "Buzz had us knocking on the door of elite" line is one of the bigger myths that we tell ourselves. Buzz' best three years were 11 seed, 3 seed, 3 seed. It depends on your definition of elite....but I think most elite teams would consider that a pretty meh stretch and that was our peak. Then Blue declares unexpectedly and the whole house of cards comes crashing down. That's not what an almost elite program looks like to me. Don't get me wrong, I think if Blue and Buzz stayed, I liked the trajectory and could have maybe gotten there one day, I just don't think we were knocking on the door quite yet.

It think Buzz was excellent as balancing his classes so that the program momentum was building year to year. If he was as good at recruiting high school talent as he was JUCO, MU would have been elite.  But that all changed as we know at the end.

[Lennys Tap]

Wonder how many Association minutes the 84 guys ranked ahead of Wes logged...

Yep. Also wonder how many association minutes the 200+ guys rated ahead of JFB and Jae logged...

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I'll be honest, I think the "Buzz had us knocking on the door of elite" line is one of the bigger myths that we tell ourselves. Buzz' best three years were 11 seed, 3 seed, 3 seed. It depends on your definition of elite....but I think most elite teams would consider that a pretty meh stretch and that was our peak. Then Blue declares unexpectedly and the whole house of cards comes crashing down. That's not what an almost elite program looks like to me. Don't get me wrong, I think if Blue and Buzz stayed, I liked the trajectory and could have maybe gotten there one day, I just don't think we were knocking on the door quite yet.

Yah...I mean, I think we're on the same page.  The eight straight tourney appearances and some deep NCAA runs gets you kind of close to being an elite program, but still not there.  We have a LONGGGGGG way to go just to get back to that point.   

[WhiteTrash]

Can the program continue to grow and develop into a consistent top 25 type team?  Yah.  I think Wojo definitely has the ability to do that if he sticks around.  Things are pointed in the right direction.  But it also OK to take a step back and look at the program without your homer glasses on.

"..if he sticks around." In light of the recent extension, as modest as it was, I don't see MU firing Wojo soon. (disaster season or a scandal would be the only reason) 

[BrewCity83]

I'll hold my thoughts on Wojo's future with the program for another thread.  This is supposed to be all about recruiting.