Top UNC men’s basketball recruit asks Tar Heels for release amid crowded backcourt

With a crowded backcourt at the University of North Carolina, one of the Tar Heels’ top recruits in its 2023 class has asked to be released from his commitment to the perennial ACC powerhouse.

Simeon Wilcher, most recently rated No. 34 overall in the 2023 class by 247Sports, committed to coach Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels in October 2021 and chose to stay in school despite a reported six-figure offer from Overtime Elite.

But with the return of senior RJ Davis, and the recent announcement from No. 11-ranked recruit Elliot Cadeau that he is reclassifying to UNC’s 2023 class, Wilcher is reopening his recruitment.

According to several published reports, Wilcher has asked for — and is likely to be granted — his release from his UNC commitment.

That leaves Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels with just two incoming freshmen this season — Cadeau and forward Zayden High — and three available scholarship roster spots.

The Heels still have five guards listed on their roster — transfers Cormac Ryan and Paxson Wojcik, RJ Davis, sophomore Seth Trimble and Cadeau.

It’s Cadeau’s reclassification that likely swayed Wilcher’s decision. Cadeau, a five-star point guard who had originally committed to the Tar Heels as a member of the 2024 recruiting class, announced via social media in late May he’s reclassifying and will join UNC this fall.

The UNC roster will have some decidedly different faces next season.

The Tar Heels added 6-foot-7 wing Harrison Ingram (Stanford), Ryan, a 6-5 shooting guard from Notre Dame, 6-9 forward Jae’Lyn Withers (Louisville) and Wojick, a 6-5 guard from Brown, via the transfer portal this spring. They retained two starters in 6-9 all-ACC forward Armando Bacot and the 6-foot RJ Davis, and a reserve, Trimble.

After going 20-13 and missing the NCAA Tournament, UNC saw starting guard Caleb Love transfer to Arizona, while 6-5 guard Tyler Nickel is headed to Virginia Tech, 6-6 forward Dontrez Styles to Georgetown, 6-8 forward Justin McKoy to Hawaii and 6-8 forward Puff Johnson to Penn State.

This story was originally published June 6, 2023 at 4:26 PM.