ESPN news: Carolina Basketball Offering Time Blessing Time, it’s Time Again……
Following the single spring evaluation weekend, Hubert Davis started distributing scholarship offers on Monday.
The one and only open recruitment period for non-scholastic (AAU) schools in the spring is ended. The crew from North Carolina spent time assessing prospects from the classes of 2025 and 2026 at the Nike EYBL in Indiana and the adidas 3SSB event in Texas.
Once they were back in Chapel Hill, the staff got together, exchanged notes, and on Monday afternoon, Hubert Davis began distributing scholarship offers. Here, we’re keeping tabs on those fresh offerings.
NIK KHAMENIA (2025)
Nik Khamenia, a 6-foot-8 big who was a standout at Harvard-Westlake in Studio City, California, began receiving offers from UNC in January. Gonzaga, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, St. John’s, Stanford, UCLA, and UNLV are among the schools that have made offers to him.
“Khamenia has shown himself to be one of the best power forward prospects in the West and the country,” stated Eric Bossi, national recruiting director of 247Sports. He competes in a sport that demands talent, tenacity, and fierce competition. He can jump shoot the ball offensively with a range that extends to the three-point line. He enjoys playing in the high post, where he can attack off the dribble, make jumpers, and find cutters with clean passes.”
North Carolina missed the opportunity to see Khamenia this past weekend since he is a Puma circuit player. But above all, there’s one quality about Khamenia that almost all analysts adore.
According to Dave Rebibo, head coach of Harvard-Westlake, “(He) competes and impacts winning.” He has a contagious smile. His enthusiasm, his drive to execute the play correctly—he simply influences winning all the time. He’s a fantastic young man, an excellent learner, and a man of tremendous intelligence and moral integrity. He’s also a fantastic worker and player.”
Derek Dixon is a 6-3 guard from Washington, D.C. who competes in the Nike EYBL with Team Takeover. Throughout the weekend, he was frequently observed by UNC staff members. Dixon is shooting a scorching 60.4 percent from the field (58-96), 57.5 percent (23-40) from three-point range, and 87.5 percent (21-24) from the free throw line in 10 games this EYBL season. He also averages 16 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game.
“Dixon continues to standout with his overall combination of basketball IQ and instinctive feel for the game,” 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein wrote over the weekend. “Dixon… showed off his three-point shooting against Team CP3.”
Iowa, Kansas State, Maryland, Miami, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Providence, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Xavier are among the schools that have extended offers to him. He made official trips to Pittsburgh and Virginia earlier this year.
Malachi Moreno, a 6-11 (self-reported 7-1) forward/center from Georgetown (Ky.) Great Crossing High School, is a star player for Indiana Elite on adidas’ 3SSB circuit.
The coaches first became interested in him last summer while observing him play for Indiana Elite on adidas’ 3SSB grassroots circuit. UNC assistant Sean May led Carolina’s pursuit of Moreno, and he attended all three of Great Crossing’s games. UNC and Moreno didn’t communicate much until the days after Christmas at the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. During those games, Moreno grabbed the third-most rebounds in the history of the Beach Ball Classic (54), which included a brilliant 24-point, 25-rebound outing in a three-point loss to Great Crossing in the tournament’s title game. Moreno spoke with May for the first time three weeks later.
This past weekend in Texas, Moreno put up 10 points (4-6 FG), 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks, which May and Hubert Davis witnessed.
Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Missouri, N.C. State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Providence, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, USC, and Virginia Tech are among the schools that have extended offers to him. In October 2023, he visited Iowa on official business. He has also visited Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Arkansas, and other places on unofficial visits.
Braylon Mullins, a 6-5 guard from Greenfield, Ind. Central High School, is Moreno’s teammate on Indiana Elite’s 17U adidas 3SSB squad. Butler, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Notre Dame, Purdue, and Iowa have extended offers to him. Also showing interest in him are Tennessee, Alabama, and UConn.
Mullins is averaging 19.6 points (51.4 FG%, 44% 3pt, and 71 FT%), 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2 steals per game in 13 games this 3SSB season.
Brandon Jenkins, a 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst, spent a lot of time watching Mullins over the weekend.
“A lethal shot maker from deep with an extremely quick release,” Jenkins stated. He has excellent positional size at the two-guard position and is a fluid motion shooter. In addition, he has demonstrated the ability to succeed with exceptional talent and can move the ball and get off the floor proficiently. Perfect grab for a software that succeeds.”
