Since the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, UNC has lost six front court players to either the NBA Draft, or the transfer portal, as the heart of the team from last season is no longer in tact. Hubert Davis who was named the new head coach of the Tar Heels back on April 4th has been tasked with restocking the talent on the interior, and hasn’t had the desired success of many Tar Heel fans. Davis has landed two transfers in Justin McKoy (Virginia) and Brady Manek (Oklahoma), to help the Tar Heels next season. While those two transfers are big for UNC, they aren’t enough to help replenish the talent and production from a year ago. Additionally, Carolina was going to get involved with Jonas Aidoo, a product of Charlotte, NC but opted not to, and Aidoo has since committed to Tennessee. All of that has led Hubert Davis to his next target, and a place the program has gone before for premier talent.
Efton Reid, a 6-11 big man from way of IMG Academy, the same place Armando Bacot starred in before committing to UNC. Reid had been recruited by Roy Williams, but was never offered a scholarship by the former Hall of Fame head coach, but now has the attention of Hubert Davis and his staff. According to 247Sports, Reid is the #28 player in the 2021 class, while being the #4 center, and #3 prospect from the state of Florida.
Despite his 6-11 frame, Reid has a lot of what Davis is looking for in his post players moving forward, meaning he has the ability to step out and shoot the three. As good as Carolina’s bigs have been, they’ve clogged the lane, not allowing the guards to penetrate and get to the rim. Hubert Davis is focused on fixing that, and evolving the Tar Heel offense to a more modern style of play. Not only is Reid a capable shooter, he’s comfortable initiating the offense, and is a solid defender, although he isn’t a known rim protector.
It’s easy to see how he could help this team, and that’s why he’s been recruited by other ACC schools, as well as teams from the SEC, Big 10, and Big 12. Davis swung and missed on getting Walker Kessler to return for his sophomore season, and there’s no telling what Armando Bacot will do after going through the NBA Draft process, so Reid should be the full focus for Hubert Davis, and his newly formed staff, as Carolina still needs talent and depth for their front court heading into next season,
Make sure to stay tuned to the Heel Tough Blog for the latest recruiting news around Carolina Basketball.
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