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Five-Star Guard Eliminates UNC Basketball From Contention

Isiah Harwell becomes the first 2025 UNC basketball target to publish a list of contenders that doesn't include the Tar Heels.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis
UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Over the past year and change, UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and his cohorts have handed out 15 offers on the 2025 recruiting trail. Until Saturday, none of those targets had publicly eliminated Davis & Co. from their recruitments by announcing a list of finalists without putting the Tar Heels on it.

Wasatch Academy (Utah) guard Isiah Harwell is now the first to do precisely that.

The Tar Heels landed among Harwell's top nine back in October. But on Saturday afternoon, the 6-foot-6, 200-pound five-star told On3's Joe Tipton that he's no longer considering five of those nine in UNC, UCLA, Alabama, Idaho State, and Baylor.

His four finalists are Texas, Cal, Houston, and Gonzaga. Harwell, No. 7 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, plans to visit ACC newcomer Cal later this month and ultimately reveal his college choice on Sept. 12.

Meanwhile, the UNC basketball staff's 14 remaining targets in the 2025 arena still include nine five-star prospects: guards Cayden Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Jasper Johnson, along with forwards Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Koa Peat, Caleb Wilson, Nate Ament, and Bryson Tiller.

As for the other five undecided rising high school seniors on the Tar Heels' wishlist, they are four-star guard Derek Dixon, four-star guard Acaden Lewis, four-star guard Braylon Mullins, four-star forward Nikolas Khamenia, and four-star center Malachi Moreno. Those five and Ament are the most recent additions to Hubert Davis' offer sheet, each receiving their offer out of Chapel Hill within the past month.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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