A top insider suggests that a prime UNC basketball target might be leaning towards the SEC team that crushed Tar Heel hopes in March.
Alabama ended UNC’s 2023-24 basketball season in the Sweet 16. Now, Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats aims to secure a commitment from Jasper Johnson, a rising senior guard from Link Academy (Mo.). Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound guard, is ranked No. 10 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite.
In this week’s episode of The 247Sports College Basketball Show, national recruiting insider Travis Branham discussed the current status of Johnson’s recruitment, which appears to be a tight race between two or three teams.
While the 247Sports Crystal Ball for Johnson remains empty, Branham suggests that Alabama might have an edge over UNC and another top contender, Kentucky.
“This recruitment is becoming a battle between North Carolina and Alabama,” Branham explained on the show. “Kentucky is still in the mix. He’s from Woodford County, just 30 minutes away, and recently took an unofficial visit there.
“But he also visited Alabama officially and UNC unofficially. Based on what I’m hearing, it seems Alabama could be the team to beat. However, North Carolina is very much involved, with significant mutual interest and a strong admiration from Jasper for the Tar Heels. This will be a closely watched battle in the coming weeks.”
Built by Bama 🐘🐘🏀 pic.twitter.com/Cp1V9qc0Fv
— Jasper Johnson (@BruhJasperJ) June 25, 2024
Johnson first visited UNC officially in early February, five months after receiving a spot on their extensive 2025 offer sheet. He is one of six guards on Hubert Davis’ wishlist.
However, the recent additions of four-star guards Braylon Mullins, Derek Dixon, and Acaden Lewis to UNC’s target list might indicate a loss of confidence in their other perimeter pursuits, possibly including Johnson, despite his recent follow-up visit and expressed admiration for the Tar Heels as a child.
