Hurricanes continues N.C. pipeline

There is a pipeline that we forgot to mention last week in our two-part series about relationships in recruiting. Frank Haith has one to North Carolina and the Tar Heel State native went back to his roots for the latest commitment at Miami.

Haith and his staff secured a pledge from big man Reginald Johnson, a 6-foot-8, 285-pound center from Wake Forest Prep.

According to Johnson's high school coach Andre Gould, the Hurricanes have a good player headed to South Beach and the ties to North Carolina certainly helped.

"Ultimately, you can say that played a factor in this. Coach Haith did a great job. He's familiar with North Carolina from his days at Wake Forest and even when he was at Texas (when he helped land P.J. Tucker). And, of course, now at Miami. He has family here as well. I think that helped build that relationship."

Miami currently has three North Carolina natives on its roster this season. Johnson is the second player on board for the Hurricanes in the class of 2008. He joins Dequan Jones, an athletic wing from Georgia.

"They have a great, great, great catch in that kid," Gould said. "He's a great kid that is getting better and better…I really believe they are getting the best big man in North Carolina.

"There was a chance for him to play at the highest level in the ACC day in and day out. He feels like he's one of the elite big men in the country and he will have a chance to prove himself and compete with the best there."

Johnson didn't have an easy decision either, Gould said. Virginia Commonwealth, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech and Virginia were also in the picture.