A Look Back
The 2018 class for North Carolina had over 60 players sign to a Division One basketball program. If you take a look over the country, that number is one of the highest among any state.
The state of North Carolina will have freshman playing at Kansas, North Carolina, Duke, Maryland, NC State, Clemson, Wake Forest, the Big 12, Big 10 and other conferences from around the country that are at the highest level of college basketball.
The 2018 class is as strong as any class that I have covered in The Tar Heel State since I started basketball recruiting about 11 years ago.
North Carolina produced 2 McDonald All-Americans this pst season, Devon Dotson (Kansas) and Coby White (North Carolina).
Some recruiting experts will say that the 2016 class (3 NBA Draft picks) was the strongest. Dennis Smith (Dallas Mavericks), Harry Giles (Sacramento) and Bam Adebayo (Miami). At the top of the charts that might be the case but as an overall class, 2018 blows that 2016 class away.
60-plus seniors from North Carolina will suit up for Division One programs this fall. Sixty. 60. Let that number sink in.
There are 300+ Division One programs in the country, 60 players from North Carolina will be on one or more of those rosters for their freshman season.
The “Hoop State” is alive and well. The 2019, 2020 and 2021 class all have players that will be almost be a lock for an McDonalds All-American selection.
College coaches know they are getting kids with high basketball IQ’s, skilled, tough players when they recruit North Carolina kids. From the biggest cities in the state to the smallest towns, you will find players in North Carolina.
The 2019 class will come close to being as strong as the 2018 class from the top to bottom of college recruits at the Division One level.
Over 100 kids from North Carolina over the next two seasons will suit up to play college basketball in the biggest division in the country.
2018 Division One signees:
Devon Dotson (Kansas)
Coby White (North Carolina)
Jaylen Hoard (Wake Forest)
John Newman (Clemson)
Manny Bates (NC State)
Ian Steere (NC State)
Will Dillard (Georgia Southern)
Joey Baker (Duke)
Jaylen Sims (UNC-W)
Trey Wertz (Santa Clara)
Isaac Suffren (Louisiana-Lafayette)
Jack Hemphill (Boston University)
Jairus Hamilton (Boston College)
Elijah McCadden (Georgia Southern)
Milos Stajcic (Campbell)
Deacon Heath (UNC-Asheville)
Rechon Black (North Carolina)
Adrien Delph (Appalachian State)
Jayden Gardner (East Carolina)
Nate Hinton (Houston)
Raphael Jenkins (VMI)
Qon Murphy (Houston Baptist)
Hunter Tyson (Clemson)
Josh Cottrell (WCU)
Aaron Wiggins (Maryland)
Isiah Bigelow (Charlotte)
Kris Monroe (Providence)
Quan McCluney (College of Charleston)
Daivien Williamson (ETSU)
Michael Wynn (Wake Forest)
Dravon Mangum (Charlotte)
Jomaru Brown (EKU)
Trey Murphy (Rice)
Blake Preston (Liberty)
Marque Maultsby (New Hampshire)
Kody Shubert (Presbyterian)
Kris Wooten (Elon)
KC Hankton (St. Louis)
Stephen Edoka (UNCA)
Garralle Gates (New Orleans)
Elochukwu Eze (SIU-Edwardsville)
Jarmarius Burton (Wichita State)
Andy Pack (Elon)
Josiah Jeffers (Longwood)
Ricky Clemons (Campbell)
Isaiah Wilkins (Virginia Tech)
David Kasanganay (Navy)
Nate Springs (Ohio)
Jordan Love (SEMO)
Ben Oloko (Houston Baptist)
Chris Martin (Presbyterian)
Audiese Toney (Pitt)
Jaylen Richard (College of Charleston)
Kevin Obanor (Oral Roberts)
Torey James (Ohio)
Jonathan Hicklin (James Madison)
Jaylen Gainey (Brown)
Josh Price (Liberty)
Madison Monroe (Army)
Trevon Mayo (NC A&T)