Bill Belichick and the crew at North Carolina have been on a roll this month, crisscrossing the country to scout new talent.
On Friday, UNC’s defensive backs coach, Armond Hawkins, made an intriguing move. He offered a spot to a 2026 prospect from the Pacific Northwest whose last name might ring a bell for basketball fans in North Carolina.
Meet Guilio Banchero. He’s the younger brother of former Duke basketball star and current Orlando Magic forward, Paolo Banchero. Guilio just got a major offer from North Carolina, and he shared the news with a throwback photo of him and Paolo at a UNC basketball game when they were kids.
“We gon talk about this photo choice but congrats,” Paolo wrote in response.
This offer is only Guilio’s second, with Montana State being the other school interested. He’s showing his skills as both a wide receiver and a cornerback at Seattle’s O’Dea High School. And get this—his team went undefeated last season, with a perfect 12-0 record, snagging the top spot in Washington state, according to the On3 Composite Rankings. Guilio’s stats? He caught 14 passes for 297 yards and scored five touchdowns last year.
Though he’s not yet ranked in the On3 Industry Ranking, which blends ratings from all major recruiting sites, 247Sports lists him as a three-star prospect.
North Carolina making moves on the recruiting trail
UNC’s 2026 recruiting class is heating up. They’ve already locked in four commitments, thanks to a recent trio of California defensive backs joining the team.
In just three days, Gardena Junipero Serra’s three-star cornerback, Marcellous Ryan, Los Angeles Rancho Cucamonga’s three-star CB, Justin Lewis, and Concord De La Salle’s three-star CB, Jaden Jefferson, all decided to head to Chapel Hill. Ryan stands out as the only top-500 recruit in the group.
They join Zaid Lott, a three-star quarterback from Charlotte Providence Day. Lott is sticking with UNC despite the coaching change from Mack Brown to Belichick. He’s currently ranked as the No. 45 QB in this cycle.
January has been a whirlwind of offers to blue-chip recruits. But keep an eye on Banchero. With his family ties to the area and his brother’s memorable season at Duke, he could be a key player to watch in the coming years.
