A breakdown of UNC's top-10 2023 recruiting class

In his first year as a head coach, Hubert Davis made a run to the NCAA Tournament final game. UNC started the 2022-23 season with the preseason No. 1 ranking, and now with five-star guard Simeon Wilcher signed, North Carolina has the No. 7 class in the 2023 On3 Team Rankings.

The Tar Heel’s two-man class, Wilcher and four-star Zayden High, have a class score of 95.75. This score gives the Tar Heels their highest-rated class since 2020.

Let’s review both players and see what UNC is getting.

Five-star G Simeon Wilcher

Height/Weight: 6-4/175
High school: Roselle (NJ) Roselle Catholic
2023 On3 Consensus: No. 17

At 6-foot-4, Simeon Wilcher is comfortable on the ball and at his best when attacking the rim. 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.

Four-star PF Zayden High

Height/Weight: 6-10/215
High school: Chandler (AZ) AZ Compass
2023 On3 Consensus: No. 47

Zayden High is a late bloomer. He has grown more than six inches while in high school, so while he is still learning and figuring out his frame, he has maintained a lot of the mobility and fluidity he had as a younger guard.

High is a fluid athlete. He runs well, he switches directions and slides his feet well, and he is a good vertical athlete. High will need to continue getting stronger, but he plays hard and he battles on the boards. There is a real upside on the defensive end.

Offensively, as the summer continued, High kept growing as an aggressive, offensive player. In July, he played around the basket, 15 feet, and in, and attacked the rim with a purpose. As he continues to get stronger and grow into his body, he will convert more of those attacking plays. High has upside as a shooter as well; he made 1.2 threes per game during EYBL play, and he made 70.1 percent of his 3.7 free-throw attempts per game.

Davis has shown he likes defensive versatility and floor spacing from his four position. In time, Zayden High has the upside to excel in each of those places for UNC.