With the recruiting scene always changing, is Hubert Davis adapting?
During the Roy Williams era of coaching, North Carolina seemed to only offer players of a specific mold. High school guys that did not have handlers or go to sketchy schools were Williams bread and butter. It had seemed as if Hubert Davis was doing the same thing. There were no offers going out to prospects who were at certain prep and pop-up schools. Davis even ended the recruitment of a player that transferred to Kanye West’s Donda Academy.
The Recruit
The newest offer is to Bryson Tiller, who is currently playing in the Overtime Elite League. The 6’8 power forward from Atlanta, Georgia, is ranked fourth nationally. Tiller has been mentioned as a standout in multiple camps and games with the league.
Why is it a Surprise?
The reason this is different from previous recruitments is because Tiller is playing for Overtime Elite. Overtime Elite is a professional league for young prospects, and they are paid. This is the kind of thing North Carolina has stayed away from in the past. So what changed? With NIL being king these days, money no longer scares coaches away. Tiller is a top recruit in 2025, and one that Hubert will want to land. These leagues are typically hype trains and are meant to get players names out. The problem is, competition isn’t always great. Some games can look like an AAU-style free-for-all. Additionally, the players are being trained, but there are question marks around the optics of Overtime Elite.
Notable Overtime Elite Prospects
- Amen and Ausar Thompson: Twin brothers, both are expected to be lottery NBA picks.
- Robert Dillingham: The recruit we mentioned that Hubert stopped recruiting, Dillingham chose to play for Donda Academy before moving to Overtime Elite. Next season, he will play for Kentucky.
- Naasir Cunningham: Ranked 30th nationally by 247Sports, Cunningham has a top 5 of Kansas, Memphis, Rutgers, UCLA, and Duke.
With more recruits moving to less traditional options in high school, North Carolina may continue to pivot its recruiting approach.
