UNC Hoops Recruiting: 2026–27 Point Guard Prospects to Watch

If you look at all of the great UNC teams from years past, the Tar Heels always had a playmaker at point guard.

The Tar Heels have long thrived on elite floor generals—from Raymond Felton to Ty Lawson to RJ Davis—and keeping that tradition alive is a top priority for Hubert Davis and his staff. As the 2026 and 2027 recruiting cycles heat up, UNC has begun to zero in on several high-upside guards who fit the Carolina mold: unselfish, fast, and tough-minded leaders capable of running the show in Chapel Hill.

Here are four names to watch out for from both 202

Deron Rippey, 2026, Blair Academy (NJ)

Rippey is the No. 17 player nationally, No.3 point guard and No. 1 player from New Jersey. North Carolina is a strong contender to land one of the best point guards in the country.

The Tar Heels are in Rippey's top 12 right now along with, Alabama, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Louisville, Miami, NC State, Syracuse, Tennessee and Texas,.

Rippey will get a chance to visit UNC this fall where he will get a chance to mingle with head coach Hubert Davis, his staff and the many players on North Carolina’s roster right now. His visit to Chapel Hill will last from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. That weekend will be very busy for the university as the football team will play a primetime game against TCU on Labor Day at Kenan Stadium. 

Dylan Mingo, 2026 Long Island Lutheran (NY)

A five-star prospect according to 247Sports and ESPN, he is rated as the N0. 6 player nationally, No. 3 combo guard and No. 1 player from the state of New York.

Mingo could be the next great Tar Heel from the New York/New Jersey metro area.

Mingo is a player who can play both the one or two and be effective at both due to his size (6-5, 185). He can slash and score in the paint, knock down mid-rangers and has started to show some flashes of shooting the ball effectively from behind the arc.