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Report User Not too long ago, Michael Jordan might have been the top recruiter in college basketball. Nine out of every 10 high school kids listed UNC as their dream school.
Here's some recent evidence: The Tar Heels went into the Lone Star state last week and got a commitment from one of the top juniors in the country - John Henson.
A day later, they got a pledge from the Wear Twins - a pair of skilled forwards out of the Los Angeles area.
That means North Carolina beat Texas in its home-state and then followed it up by beating a UCLA team that has been to consecutive Final Fours in their own backyard.
"When they show up, you might as well pack it up and go home," said one high-major head coach. "You can't beat them anywhere right now."
MAYS BREAKS HAND
Clemson coach Oliver Purnell doesn't feel as though James Mays will miss any game action despite suffering a broken left (non-shooting) hand last night.
Purnell wasn't certain when and how Mays suffered the injury, but he thought it happened in pre-game warmups when a ball jammed his finger.
The 6-foot-9 senior missed five games earlier in the season due to a hip injury and he has slowly worked his way back. Mays played 32 minutes and finished with nine points and eight rebounds in a 90-88 overtime loss to top-ranked North Carolina on Sunday night.
"We think he'll be able to play with a splint," Purnell said. "He played most, if not all, of the game with the fracture last night."
Clemson's next game is Wednesday against Charlotte at home.
STEPHESON SLATED TO RETURN TO CHAPEL HILL
There were plenty of rumors swirling when North Carolina reserve forward Alex Stepheson returned home to California.
One was that he was considering transferring out of the program.
However, UNC coach Roy Williams said that the 6-foot-9 sophomore is expected back to Chapel Hill today and plans to practice on Tuesday.
Stepheson's presence in the lineup is essential, especially with the up-tempo style that Williams and his team plays. UNC was forced to go primarily with six players in the overtime win against Clemson and Mike Copeland, who took Stepheson's place off the bench, logged just three minutes.
WATERS RUNNING
Nice to see former Rutgers coach Gary Waters doing well out at Cleveland State.
In fact, Waters and the Vikings (10-5) are in first place and are the lone undefeated team in the Horizon League at 3-0.
Butler's lone loss came at Wright State, where Cleveland State will play on Saturday.
The Vikings five losses have all come to Top 100 teams in the RPI: Ohio State, Kent State, George Mason, Georgia Southern and Cal State Northridge.
RANDOM NOTES: Expect Louisville sophomore Earl Clark to be back in the lineup after he was suspended for the win over Kentucky. ... Georgia Tech sophomore forward Mouhammad Faye is transferring. The 6-foot-10 Senegal native played in five games and averaged 2.2 points per game. ...Redshirt freshman forward Jacob Green is leaving West Virginia. ... Memphis got a commitment from talented California native Matt Simpkins, a 6-foot-8 forward who is spending the year at Patterson School (N.C.). ... Illinois continues to get things done on the recruiting trail. Former Illini star Luther Head's little brother, Rich South (Ill.) High shooting guard Crandall Head, verbally committed to Bruce Weber & Co. ... According to sources, Harmony Prep will add Bud Mackey, the former Indiana commit who was arrested on drug charges, and also talented wing Jason Henry. Don't be surprised if Mackey winds up at Cincinnati. Henry is a former Bearcats commit who has re-opened his recruitment. ... Check out this video of Bishop McGuiness High (Okla.) big man Daniel Orton shattering the backboard with Florida coach Billy Donovan in attendance: http://www.newsok.com/video/brightcove/?bctid=1366496459&bclid=1111450866. ... UNC Greensboro will retire senior Kyle Hines' No. 42 on Feb. 28 prior to the game against Chattanooga. Hines is already the program's all-time leading scorer.