ESPN: Alabama defeat UNC basketball in the race to sign a five-star talented player.

According to a reliable source, a major target for UNC basketball may be leaning toward the SEC team that dashed Tar Heel hopes in March.

The 2023–24 UNC basketball season was terminated by Alabama in the Sweet 16. Head coach Nate Oats of the Crimson Tide is now focused on dealing a decisive blow to Tar Heels star Hubert Davis and any other suitors for rising senior Jasper Johnson of Link Academy (Mo.). Johnson is a 6-foot-4, 175-pound guard who is ranked No. 10 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite.

The national recruiting insider Travis Branham evaluated the situation in what seems to be a two- or three-horse race down the homestretch of the thrilling five-star’s high-profile recruitment during this week’s episode of The 247Sports College Basketball Show.

Additionally, Branham suggests that the Tide has an advantage against UNC and another elite team, home-state contender Kentucky, even if the 247Sports Crystal Ball for Johnson is still empty.

On the show, Branham said, “This recruitment is turning into a fight between North Carolina and Alabama.” Kentucky is still engaged. He was born and raised in Woodford County, which is evidently about 30 minutes away; again, he recently made an unofficial visit there.

However, he had just returned from an unofficial visit to UNC and an official visit to Alabama. And from what I’m hearing, Alabama appears like they might be the team to defeat. However, North Carolina is heavily involved; it appears that there is a great deal of shared interest and that Jasper has warm feelings for the Tar Heels. And in the upcoming weeks, we will be keeping an eye on this particular conflict.”

Johnson is one of six guards in his class that Hubert Davis still has his eye on. Johnson visited the Tar Heels for the first time on an official visit in early February, about five months after discovering what has grown to be a 17-deep 2025 UNC basketball offer sheet.

However, the three four-star prospects Braylon Mullins, Derek Dixon, and Acaden Lewis that were just added to that list of backcourt targets may be a sign that Davis and his staff are no longer as confident in their other perimeter targets. Maybe that includes their pursuit of Jasper Johnson, even after the highly sought-after 18-year-old acknowledged his childhood love for all things Tar Heel during a recent follow-up visit.