WELCOME TO UNC Basketball: Nation’s No. 1 Player, 7-Foot-9 Phenom, Shocks College Basketball World by Committing to Tar Heels Over Powerhouses Duke, NC State, and Alabama
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In a seismic shift that has stunned the college basketball world, the nation’s No. 1 high school prospect, 7-foot-9 center Elijah “Eli” Turner, has officially flipped his commitment to the University of North Carolina. Originally pledged to Alabama, Turner announced his decision Tuesday night via a nationally televised ESPN special, donning a Carolina blue cap to raucous cheers from a live Chapel Hill crowd.
Turner, a generational talent out of Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles, has been hailed as the most dominant big man prospect since Shaquille O’Neal. At 7’9” and 290 pounds, with a reported 9-foot-10 standing reach and size 24 shoes, Turner has shattered expectations—and rims. A multi-dimensional center, he boasts elite timing as a shot-blocker, rare court vision, and an uncanny ability to run the floor like a guard. Scouts rave about his “guard-like coordination in a giant’s body,” a phrase now echoed across every major recruiting platform.
“This is a dream come true,” Turner said, moments after making the switch. “I want to be part of something bigger than myself, and Coach Davis made it clear that Carolina is about family, legacy, and winning. I want to bring another banner to the Dean Dome.”
UNC head coach Hubert Davis called Turner’s flip “transformational,” adding, “We just secured the anchor for a national championship run. Eli isn’t just tall—he’s skilled, coachable, and driven. He’s going to change how college basketball is played.”
The news sent shockwaves through college basketball, with analysts quickly reshuffling 2025 preseason rankings. Duke, who had been pushing hard to land Turner after he decommitted from Alabama last month, was reportedly “blindsided” by the late decision. NC State and Alabama, both considered finalists, had in-home visits with Turner in the past two weeks, making his commitment all the more dramatic.
Social media exploded. NBA stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid posted congratulatory messages. “This kid is different,” tweeted Embiid. “Can’t teach height—and you definitely can’t teach what Eli Turner’s doing out there.”
Turner averaged an eye-popping 28.4 points, 17.2 rebounds, and 6.3 blocks per game in his senior season, drawing standing-room-only crowds across the country. Videos of him dunking without jumping and blocking shots from the three-point line have gone viral repeatedly.
With his commitment, UNC’s 2025 recruiting class now ranks No. 1 nationally, featuring two other five-star prospects and the top-rated point guard in the nation. Analysts are already projecting a Final Four appearance, if not an outright title.
For the Tar Heel faithful, this is more than a recruitment—it’s a declaration.
Eli Turner is headed to Chapel Hill. And the college basketball landscape may never be the same.
