North Carolina 4-star SG signee Simeon Wilcher asks for release from National Letter of Intent

Roselle (N.J.) Roselle Catholic four-star shooting guard Simeon Wilcher has asked for a release from his National Letter of Intent with North Carolina, Travis Branham of 247 Sports reported Tuesday. Wilcher was previously committed to the Tar Heels since Oct. 15, 2021.

Following Wilcher’s request, North Carolina’s 2023 recruiting class ranks No. 10 in the 2023 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings and No. 3 in the ACC. The Tar Heels’ group currently contains two high school recruits in Branson (Mo.) Link Year Prep five-star point guard Elliot Cadeau and Chandler (Ariz.) Compass Prep four-star center Zayden High.

Wilcher is the No. 35 overall prospect and No. 6 shooting guard in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 4 player in New Jersey.

“My whole game needs to get tightened up, to be honest,” Wilcher told On3’s Joe Tipton on Jan. 18. “But specifically what I’m working on now is pace. Because you see like in the NBA, like SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and all those guys that I watch, they don’t let nobody speed ’em up. They get to their position at the speed that they want to go. So that’s really what I’m working on.”

Wilcher is one of the top prospects in the country

The 6-foot-4, 185-pound recruit took his official visit to Chapel Hill on Oct. 8, 2021. He also went on an official to Nebraska a week earlier.

“Simeon Wilcher is comfortable on the ball and at his best when attacking the rim,” On3’s Jamie Show wrote on Nov. 15. “He is aggressive, and his play style fits with what Hubert Davis likes from his lead guards. Davis, the second-year head coach, showed he likes tough-minded guards who can create shot opportunities. While efficiency is sporadic with Wilcher, he embodies that mental toughness. During Peach Jam, Wilcher averaged 17.8 points on 47.0 percent shooting from the field.”

Breaking down Wilcher’s shot attempts, 79.5 percent of them were at the rim; he shot 56.6 percent on these shots. Wilcher uses a quick and aggressive first step with body control, length, and explosion at the basket. Wilcher will need to shore up the three-point shooting (26.8% on 41 attempts) and his court vision/decision-making (55 assists to 58 turnovers in 15 EYBL games). But there is a defensive upside and an innate toughness that leads to his consistent production at every level.”