Which basketball recruiting target did UNC lose out on?
The UNC basketball program is taking an aggressive approach to its 2026 recruiting class, already extending offers to 13 prospects.
Most of those offers are to 5-stars, including Top-10 overall player Anthony Thompson. Several class of 2026 recruits already visited the Tar Heels, but none left with decisions.
On Monday, North Carolina learned it lost out on one of its top targets. 5-star power forward Toni Bryant, ranked 21st overall nationally according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, committed to Missouri.
Bryant previously visited Chapel Hill, but left without a commitment.
The Tigers, a program on the rise under fourth-year head coach Dennis Gates, made the NCAA Tournament in March. Mizzou lost to Drake in an upset, but gave Gates his second Big Dance appearance in three season.
With Bryant’s commitment to an SEC school, there are now three power forwards left on UNC’s 2026 recruiting board: Miikka Muurinen, Cameron Williams and Quinn Costello. Muurinen and Costello haven’t visited Chapel Hill yet, while Williams has a visit scheduled.
Losing out on Bryant isn’t a big blow to the Tar Heels, given their outstanding three offers to power forwards, but it does create an urgency to lock in a commitment at this position. North Carolina is pretty deep at the four on its current roster, with 5-star freshman Caleb Wilson and Alabama transfer Jarin Stevenson competing for minutes.
Bryson Howard visited UNC over the weekend – and he could be the first class of 2026 commitment. Once one piece of the Tar Heels’ next recruiting puzzle is locked in, Hubert Davis can start addressing other roster needs.
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