North Carolina Tar Heels

UNC recruiting roundup 9/28: Updates on football, basketball programs

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sep 24, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Bug Howard (84) catches the game tying touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Carolina defeated Pitt 37-36. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Keeping It Heel brings UNC fans the final recruiting roundup for September with updates on basketball and football programs

The University of North Carolina had a huge week in recruiting that saw both football and basketball prospects on campus in Chapel Hill.

Most recruits’ visits revolved around the UNC football game on Saturday at Kenan Stadium. The Tar Heels won the game in exciting fashion, coming from behind and taking the lead 37-36 in the closing moments.

Few high school recruits got to see a football game as exciting as the one between North Carolina and Pittsburgh during their respective visits to universities across the nation this past weekend.

Here’s everything you need to know about the week in recruiting for the University of North Carolina football and basketball programs.

Two UNC commits invited to participate in the 80th Annual Shrine Bowl

UNC commits Jake Lawler and Marcus McKethan have been named to the 80th Annual Shrine Bowl roster.

Lawler will represent the Tar Heels on the NC squad while McKethan will be a member of the South Carolina team.

Lawler is a four-star defensive end from Charlotte, North Carolina and McKethan is a three-star offensive tackle from Barnwell, South Carolina. Both are considered firm verbal commits from the class of 2017.

The Shrine Bowl will be played on Saturday, December 17 at 2 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.

Football recruits on campus for Tar Heels win over Pittsburgh

On Saturday, UNC fans got to see one of the most exciting games ever played at Kenan Memorial Stadium. There was also a handful of recruits on campus that got to see the tilt between North Carolina and Pittsburgh.

While the Tar Heels gave everything they had on the field, UNC recruits watched in amazement from the stands as the game came down to a come-from-behind touchdown with only two seconds remaining.

Here’s who was in attendance:

2017 center Brandon Huffman commits to UNC

Late Monday morning, Roy Williams and the Tar Heels got a verbal commitment from three-star center Brandon Huffman.

Huffman, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound center from Raleigh, North Carolina is a good finisher on the low blocks and a surprisingly good athlete for his size and position. More importantly though, he gives the Tar Heels some desperately needed size and depth in the front court.

UNC lost Brice Johnson to graduation after the Tar Heels’ run to the national title game, and now prepare to lose seniors Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks after this season.

They were fortunate enough to add five-star center Tony Bradley to the mix in 2016, though.

Huffman joins combo guard Jalek Felton and shooting guard Andrew Platek in North Carolina’s 2017 recruiting class.

While he does have some raw ability, he’s a player that will have to put in a tremendous amount of time and effort to see substantial minutes on the court.

Roy Williams extends scholarship offer to 2017 big man Sterling Manley

Late Monday evening, Roy Williams offered a scholarship to 6-foot-11, 230-pound Sterling Manley.

Manley is yet another 2017 big man that the Tar Heels have targeted after missing on several five-star recruits in the class.

Desperately needing size and depth in the front court, UNC was quick to offer a scholarship to Manley after watching him play twice in the last week.

Along with UNC, Manley holds offers from Georgetown, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Xavier, among others. North Carolina, West Virginia and Xavier are currently considered the front-runners to land Manley.

P.J. Washington says UNC visit was “10 out of 10”

Five-star prospect P.J. Washington was in Chapel Hill this past weekend for the second of his four official visits.

He apparently enjoyed his trip to UNC because he’s since described the visit as “10 out of 10”. His parents also told Inside Carolina that both they and P.J. enjoyed the trip very much.

The UNC coaching staff and players were looking to make a good impression on the 6-foot-7, 225-pound power forward who is deciding between a handful of elite Division I programs.

He was at Kentucky last weekend and plans to visit Arizona and Texas in October before making his final decision.

Washington is one of the most talented big men in the class of 2017. The Tar Heels would greatly benefit from his contributions on the court as well as his impact on other recruits off the court.

UNC has had a difficult time getting commitments from five-star recruits over the last few years, due in part to the looming NCAA investigation and possible sanctions.

Washington’s commitment would be a substantial step in the right direction toward solving that problem.

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