Scout's Take: ESPN 25 Jalek Felton commits to UNC
ESPN 25 No. 7 shooting guard
Jalek Felton committed to North Carolina on Tuesday after being heavily recruited by Kansas, Louisville, South Carolina and Wichita State. The five-star guard puts the Tar Heels on the board in the Class of 2017 in a huge way. Here's what Felton will bring to Chapel Hill.
Why he committed: "I love the tempo, the fast-break system, it fits the way I play," Felton told ESPN.com. "The coaching staff is nice and I love the history and tradition and seeing my uncle Raymond Felton's jersey."
What he brings: At 6-foot-3, Felton is a high-energy, attacking shooting guard who excels in transition where he is also a terrific open-court passer. He is a scorer and playmaker with the ball in his hands. He plays in full attack mode on the offensive end. Felton is an excellent draw-and-drop or kick passer and his feel for the game allows him to help at the point.
"I can score and get others involved. I am a scoring combination guard," Felton added.
How he fits: Felton will be a hand-in-glove fit for coach Roy Williams' uptempo system that the Tar Heels execute on makes or misses. Felton will be able to rebound and push the ball or run the wing which will allow him to attack the defense quickly and make plays for himself or open teammates. In the half court set, Felton has the talent to not only score within the Carolina secondary break, box sets or motion but he will be worth his weight in gold at end-of-clock situations with his excellent playmaking ability. Defensively Felton has the tools to check both guard positions and should excel in the Carolina pressure-man defense with his athletic ability, speed and quickness to go along with his excellent anticipation in the passing lanes.
Who he reminds us of: The way Felton attacks defenders and can score in a variety of ways reminds us at times of a young Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers. Both have a take-no-prisoners approach on offense, can put up big numbers quickly and can put a defense under tremendous stress possession after possession.
How the class is shaping up: Felton is the Tar Heels' first pledge in the Class of 2017, but expect other highly ranked prospects to take notice and consider joining Felton on Tobacco Road in a few years.