Top 2009 Point Guard Commits to UNC

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Top 2009 Point Guard Commits to UNC

By Evan Daniels, InsideCarolina.com

Jan 14, 2008

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Dexter Strickland has committed to the Tar Heels, InsideCarolina.com has learned through sources close to the situation. The 6-3, 175-pound junior guard from Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick will announce for UNC over Florida in a Sunday afternoon press conference at Madison Square Garden.

He informed the UNC and Florida staffs of his decision on Saturday.

Strickland is ranked the No. 1 point guard in the class of 2009 by Scout.com and the No. 10 prospect overall.

“Roy Williams is a good friend,” Strickland told InsideCarolina.com last month. “I like their coaching staff, the players on the team and basically everything. It’s a nice gym, too. I like their gym.”

He also considered offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Memphis, Ohio State and Villanova.

Strickland has the ability to play either guard position, and has played both in high school and AAU.

"My mom’s 5-11, my dad’s 6-4 and I’m 6-3 now," Strickland told InsideCarolina.com in a previous interview. "I’ll probably just grow to 6-4 ... I see myself playing the 2/1 combo guard."

UNC envisions Strickland seeing time in the backcourt at both guard spots.

"Coach [Williams] was explaining to me that I was 6-3 now and I’m only 17 so I’m probably going to grow one more inch," Strickland told InsideCarolina.com previously. "He said he sees me playing the one or the two. Larry Drew is going there and he’s 6-0, and he said he sees me playing in the game with him and playing the one and two, but mostly the two and also the one. He said it really doesn’t matter, more of a combo guard."

Strickland is UNC's fourth commitment in the junior class, joining forwards John Henson, David Wear and Travis Wear.

"He's a valuable guy for a number of reasons," said Dave Telep, of Scout.com. "He bridges the gap that will be left one day by Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington, since he'll help at both spots.

"And anytime you have a chance to add a guy who is so talented offensively and can play multiple positions, it's a big deal."

Stay tuned for more on this breaking story, including an interview with Strickland after the press conference ...

Most Recent Comments

The Tarheel grocery list is about complete...got the 'top-choice' of guards, wings, and 'bigs'. You other 'programs' can go ahead and get what's left. GO HEELS!!!

a1on1 is right...state has no Point Guard... they also have no Shooting Guards. those two losses and not playing together as a team is why state has trouble winning games. Duke is lacking a true post player but you can take a 6'8 small forward and tell him to crash boards and occasionally post up but if you lack having any true guards you can't just take your big men and teach them to shoot...and that hurts state.

Seton Hall, Villanova, Cincinnati, Davidson

ECU, NO, and MSU

"TBK...state is making the ACC look bad. i mean they have some good players but NO PG and no chemistry. about like duke not having a low post player, they do have chemistry though"

I don't know if I would go that far. State won some good games this year (beat the Big East twice). State is making STATE look bad, not the ACC.

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