North Carolina men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis proved his abilities as a head coach in the electric Tar Heel run in the NCAA Tournament last season, leading UNC to the national championship game after being unranked for most of the season. This coming season, Davis’ ability as a recruiter will be tested as his first recruiting class enters the Dean E. Smith Center.
According to 247 Sports, UNC’s recruiting class of 2022 is ranked 15th in the nation and third in the ACC, behind Duke and Virginia. The four players that make up this group – Seth Trimble, Tyler Nickel, Jalen Washington and Will Shaver – will be looking to add more depth to last season’s shallow bench rotation.
Seth Trimble
Seth Trimble, a 6-foot-3 point guard from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is the highest-ranked rookie in the 2022 class. Although rising junior guards Caleb Love and RJ Davis return for the 2022-23 season, Trimble will be looking to have an impact as a key reserve for backcourt depth.
Trimble finished his high school basketball season in Menomonee Falls with a 25-4 record and a run to the WIAA Division 1 State Semifinals. The 4-star also set a new record for most points in school history, a record set by his older brother and former UNC forward JP Tokoto.
After leading his team to the state tournament for the first time in school history, Trimble was named Wisconsin Gatorade Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year, Wisconsin’s AP Player of the Year. State and Mr. Basketball.
This week, Trimble, along with the promotion of 2023 rookie GG Jackson, represented the United States and UNC basketball team at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Tijuana, Mexico. Trimble averaged just under 10 points in six games and Team USA won gold.
Tyler Nickel
Tyler Nickel completed the recruiting class of 2022 as the latest player to commit.
Despite his 247 Sports 4-star status, Nickel lacks the national recognition of some of the other players in his class. At the state level, however, the 6-foot-8 forward left his mark on the Virginia High School League record books after an outstanding senior campaign.
Nickel became VHSL’s all-time leading scorer in February, breaking the record set by Lakers goaltender Mac McClung. Nickel totaled 2,909 points in his high school career.
Following his senior season, Nickel was named VHSL Class 2 Player of the Year and 2021-2022 Daily News-Record All-Valley Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Jalen Washington
When Jalen Washington was drafted in July 2021, he was considered a 5-star recruit.
During the same summer, he suffered partial ACL and lateral meniscus tears. Washington and his family opted for surgery to repair both injuries, and Washington missed his senior season at West Side High School in Gary, Ind. Washington said UNC staff have been a big help managing Washington’s injury to get him back in shape for the upcoming season.
Although Washington is now considered a 4-star, the 6-foot-9 center has the potential to fill the role Manek left behind once he fully recovers.
Go Shave
In June 2021, Will Shaver committed to UNC as the first high school commitment of the Hubert Davis era. Last semester, Will Shaver enrolled early at UNC, forgoing his high school basketball season.
As the first redshirt roster, the 6-foot-10 Birmingham, Alabama forward could train and “dress” for games, but he just couldn’t play. However, Shaver was able to travel and experience away games and the pressure of the NCAA Tournament.
This fall, he will be considered a redshirt freshman with four years of eligibility. Shaver, a power forward with versatile abilities as a shooter, is the type of big man Davis has coveted in his new offensive scheme.
@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com
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