The North Carolina Tar Heels are still prepping for the upcoming 2026-27 season, which will be the first under new head coach Michael Malone. But as the countdown continues, recruiting is taking focus for Malone.

The 2027 class will be the first full cycle that Malone will have as a head coach. Landing some big classes for 2027 and 2028 will be important for Malone and the Tar Heels. However, there is a recruit in the 2029 class who is starting to draw attention from North Carolina.

Combo guard JJ Crawford is considered the top recruit in the 2029 class early on, and now he's drawing a crowd at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam. On Thursday, Crawford scored 26 points in an early Peach Jam game and did so in front of Malone, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer, and NBA players, including Chris Paul, among others:

Crawford has NBA blood as well as his father is former guard Jamal Crawford. Hailing from Seattle, Crawford is already considered the top player in the 2029 class.

North Carolina has yet to offer him in his recruitment, but with the interest they are showing now, an offer is likely coming at some point.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Michael Malone watches top player in 2029 recruiting class