North Carolina Lands Big Man Brandon Huffman | Zagsblog
Recent Posts
About ZagsBlog
Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Follow Zags on Twitter
Couldn't connect with Twitter
Contact Zags
Connect with Zags:
Friday / March 29.
  • North Carolina Lands Big Man Brandon Huffman

    Share Zagsblog Share Zagsblog
    North Carolina has landed a big man for the future in Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God center Brandon Huffman.

    The 6-foot-10 Huffman is ranked the No. 45 center in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports.com. He also held offers from Missouri, Virginia Tech, Providence, Indiana, Oklahoma State, UNLV, Georgia Tech, Seton Hall, Pitt, LSU, UConn and others.

    North Carolina head coach Roy Williams and his staff were familar Huffman because they recruited his former teammate Rawle Alkins last year at Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Academy.

    “They came over and they saw [Huffman] a little bit then [when they were recruiting Alkins] and that’s where the relationship started,” Word of God coach Brian Clifton told SNY.tv recently.

    Alkins ultimately chose Arizona, but the Tar Heels jumped into the mix for Huffman — a native of Alaska whose parents are in the military — last month by offering him a scholarship during a visit to campus.

    “They met with Coach Williams and he had Brandon and his father in his office,” Clifton said, adding that Huffman’s father is from Columbia, S.C. “They sat down face-to-face and talked about it. They finally had an opportunity to sit down. They requested his transcript a couple of weeks ago. They saw him during the summer and they were in contact after the summer.

    “They felt like they had seen enough to where they felt the kid could help them and they put the offer out today, and that’s where we are.”

    As for Huffman’s upside and potential, Clifton said: “I think he’s got tremendous upside. Brandon’s one of the few 6-10 guys remaining in basketball who fully embraces what a 6-10 player could be and should be. He plays with great energy, great passion. He blocks shots, he rebounds the ball and wants to dunk it. He doesn’t want to prove that he’s Kevin Durant. He doesn’t want to dribble it or shoot it.

    “He’s also an exceptionally well raised kid. His parents have done a tremendous job with him. He’s a military kid who’s not going to have any off-the-court issues. He’s going to go to class. I think he’s a no-brainer for this level or any level.”

    Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter

    And like ZAGS on Facebook

    Written by

    [email protected]

    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

  • } });
    X