UNC Basketball Recruiting: Joel Berry likes Jim Larranaga

According to a report from Gary Ferman of CaneSport.com (Rivals), elite 2014 point guard Joel Berry likes Miami Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga and said, “I love coach L”. Berry is a five-star recruit who is widely viewed as one of the best 15 or so prospects in the nation, in addition to being the top target at PG for schools like the North Carolina Tar Heels.

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UNC, Duke, Ohio State, Miami, Kansas, Florida, Florida State, N.C. State, USF, and Maryland are ten schools to have offered Berry, and the Hurricanes have been pressing hard for Berry’s services despite recruiting analysts saying that other schools are in a better position. The bond that Berry and Larranaga share is a huge one for the Canes.

The Gators, Noles, Tar Heels, and Buckeyes are the four teams in a great position early on to land Joel Berry, but things are definitely wide open given all the elite interest in the best recruit in the state of Florida for 2014. He will even be officially visiting UNC next month, and it looks like UNC is the early pick to land Berry.

The top three PG was recently visited by Roy Williams after tearing his meniscus in his left knee five days earlier, which means that the Lake Highland Prep star will be sidelined for approximately four to six weeks.

Berry is a huge offensive weapon with his ability to shoot and drive (excellent combination of strength and speed), and it is easy to see why he is one of the most coveted recruits in the country. He does need to work on his decision-making and still needs to refine the overall point guard traits, but there is no doubt that he is either the second or third best PG in the class. UNC and Williams are pressing extremely hard for Berry, but the competition is definitely stiff.

The 6’1″, 180 pound Orlando-area prospect has taken a pair of unofficial visits to Florida State, as well as trips to USF and UF. In fact, it looks like the stiffest competition the Heels are facing in the battle to land the top 20 2014 prospect is from the programs in Florida in addition to OSU.

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