Tar Heels Set for Rivalry Showdown and Future Stars Visit Chapel Hill
North Carolina will wrap up its regular season with a highly anticipated rivalry clash against Duke on Saturday night at the Dean Smith Center. This final home game is not only a crucial matchup for UNC’s NCAA Tournament hopes but also a preview of the program’s future, as several key recruits will be in attendance.
UNC’s 2025 recruiting class—signees Isaiah Denis and Derek Dixon, along with commitment Caleb Wilson—will be on hand for the showdown. They’ll be joined by 2027 prospect LJ Smith, a combo guard from Lincolnton (N.C.) High School, with the possibility of more recruits being added to the guest list in the coming days.
The significance of the game extends beyond the rivalry, as Chapel Hill will also host ESPN’s College GameDay, adding to the spectacle. Additionally, it will be the final home appearance for senior RJ Davis, making the night even more meaningful for Tar Heel fans.
“We looked at the schedule and had an opportunity to come to a few different ones,” Jerry Wilson, Caleb Wilson’s father, told *Inside Carolina. “But that feeling we had last year (when Wilson attended UNC’s home win over Duke), we want that again. We’ll be there and we hope they put on a show.”
Wilson, ranked as the No. 9 player in the 2025 class by 247Sports, has visited Chapel Hill twice before but will be attending Saturday’s game for the first time as a Tar Heel commit. He chose UNC over offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Duke, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio State, Tennessee, and USC.
Before his visit, Wilson and his team, Atlanta (Ga.) Holy Innocents, will compete for the Georgia High School Association Private School Championship against Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb Christian on Wednesday.
Denis and Dixon have already wrapped up their senior seasons. Dixon played a key role in leading Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga to the DCSAA Boys Class AA State Championship on Sunday, contributing 13 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-4 FT), 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in a 67-51 victory over Washington (D.C.) Sidwell.
With a packed Smith Center, a national spotlight, and the next generation of Tar Heel talent in attendance, Saturday night promises to be one of the most electrifying moments of UNC’s season.
Cooper Flagg’s probable final home game is preceded by a four-word message from Duke
Duke Prepares for Final Home Game of the Season
The No. 2 Duke Blue Devils are hitting their stride as they near the end of the regular season, with the ACC and NCAA Tournaments fast approaching. However, before shifting focus to postseason play, they have one final home game on Monday night at the legendary Cameron Indoor Stadium against Wake Forest.
This game is expected to be the last home appearance for freshman star Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in June’s NBA Draft. Though Flagg has expressed some interest in returning, the chances remain slim. The night will also honor several key seniors, including Tyrese Proctor, Sion James, Mason Gillis, Stanley Borden, Maliq Brown, and Cameron Sheffield. Ahead of the game, Duke posted a simple but emotional four-word message for their home crowd in Durham, North Carolina.
While Senior Night will take center stage, Flagg’s historic season has been impossible to overlook. The Blue Devils, now 26-3, have dropped just one game in over two months.
Flagg leads Duke in multiple categories, including points (19.3), rebounds (7.6), assists (4.1), steals (1.5), and blocks (1.1). He also tops the team in minutes played and field goal percentage, making him a leading candidate for National Player of the Year.
With a 17-1 ACC record, Duke is in prime position to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They hold a slight edge over second-place Clemson (16-2) with just two regular-season games remaining.
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