Corey Pegram:
Regional Recruiting Analyst covering high school and junior nationally.
Charlotte, NC (Future150) -- The number 40 overall prospect in the 2013 class is off the board, as Kennedy Meeks committed to North Carolina Friday night. It’s a big one for Roy Williams and the Tar Heels in multiple ways. The 6’8” 280 pound center will bring size and skill to the ACC next season and is just another in a long line of talented bigs to make their way to Chapel Hill.
Meeks held offers from many high major programs, but his recruitment ultimately came down to two, North Carolina and Georgetown. Each school offered an attractive, yet different pitch.
Georgetown was selling an offense and system that develops skilled big men and uses them as a focal point in its offensive sets. Roy Hibbert, Greg Monroe, and now Otto Porter have all recently thrived in John Thompson III’s Princeton-like system. Thompson’s belief was that Meeks could be the next.
North Carolina offered proximity to home and a tradition rich program run by a coach who has taken skilled big men and fit them to his up-tempo style of play. Like Meeks, Sean May came to Carolina criticized for his lack of conditioning. People questioned how he would be able to contribute to a team whose identity was that of pace and speed. Fast forward three years and May was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 NCAA Final Four, helping his team win a national championship. Williams sees Meeks as a similar type of player.
In the end, the Tar Heels won out and left Georgetown still in a search for its next low post presence.
So, what exactly are Carolina fans getting in Meeks?
Let me put it simply. Meeks is probably the best passing big man in the high school ranks. There are two things scouts love to see in low post bigs – good hands and good footwork. Meeks has them both. It’s a common belief that it’s very difficult to teach hands and a soft touch, and with Meeks, you don’t have to worry about either.
He’s a space eater down low who gobbles up rebounds in his area and can score on the block. His skillset is very advanced for his size, and he even has the ability to step out and make perimeter jumpers. Defensively, he has very good instincts and knows how to make up for his lack of quickness with positioning and timing.
Lastly and probably most importantly to North Carolina, Meeks is an incredible outlet passer off defensive rebounds. This is how he can immediately help Roy Williams’ team. He is going to be the guy that ignites their transition offense. He will definitely need to condition his body and drop some pounds, but this is an ability that fits in perfectly with the Tar Heel style.
Meeks joins fellow big man Isaiah Hicks and point guard Nate Britt in North Carolina’s 2013 class. He will complement Hicks’ athleticism and Britt’s lead guard abilities nicely.
Roy Williams got his guy and even though the recruitment of Kennedy Meeks is over, the development of him as an athlete is still in its early stages.
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