Top NY basketball recruit Dylan Mingo chooses to join UNC

Duke Fans, Brace Yourselves

Dylan Mingo, a highly regarded high school freshman basketball player from New York, has decided to play for North Carolina.

Mingo, who is a consensus five-star recruit, ranks as the No. 9 overall prospect in the Class of 2026. He plays at Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville. Interestingly, his younger brother, Kayden, is also making waves as a freshman at Penn State.

The 6-foot-5 combo guard picked UNC over other contenders like Baylor, Washington, and Penn State. His choice adds to a list of elite recruits that head coach Hubert Davis has brought to the Tar Heels over the past several recruiting classes.

Mingo made his commitment announcement on ESPN’s “First Take” Tuesday morning.

“I felt it was the right time,” Mingo shared with Stephen A. Smith on-air.

“The right time to make this decision was seeing Caleb Wilson and Seth Trimble proudly sporting North Carolina Blue. It really reflects the culture they’ve got there.”

However, the likelihood of Mingo and Wilson ever sharing the court is pretty slim.

Wilson had been climbing up NBA draft lists but faced a setback with a hand injury. Still, he averaged a team-leading 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

His impressive performance as a freshman served as a key factor in Mingo’s choice to wear Carolina Blue instead of joining his brother at the Nittany Lions.

“I chose North Carolina for North Carolina itself,” he stated.

Mingo is noted for his versatility as a guard, boasting a wingspan of 6 feet 10 inches. He earned MVP honors at the NBA Top 100 camp last summer, attracting attention from scouts. In his final performance against top-tier rivals, he recorded impressive stats: 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.8 assists.

Interestingly, it’s Ian Jackson, a fellow New York five-star guard, who made his way down the I-95 to the Carolinas, having previously played for North Carolina.

Mingo hopes his journey with the Tar Heels won’t mirror Jackson’s, who transferred after just one year.

“Honestly, I see my role from day one as being someone who can impact winning in every way possible. I’m just a guy who will do whatever it takes to win a national championship,” he remarked.