It’s quite common for high school student-athletes to excel in multiple sports, but it’s unusual to see the same in college.
The North Carolina Tar Heels were fortunate to have the iconic Julius Peppers, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who excelled in both football and basketball. Currently, UNC has Kaleb Cost, who is a defensive back on the football team and an outfielder for the baseball squad.
The Tar Heels were also in the running for another multi-sport talent in the class of 2025, Shamarius Peterkin. The 6’2″ wide receiver plays both basketball and football at Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, NC.
Peterkin had narrowed his choices to North Carolina, NC State, and Virginia Tech. However, he made his decision over the weekend, and unfortunately, UNC was not his choice.
On Friday, Aug. 16, Peterkin committed to Virginia Tech, which surprised many who expected him to stay in-state.
The UNC men’s basketball program was not open to allowing Peterkin to participate in both basketball and football, whereas Virginia Tech was, which played a significant role in his decision.
Though Peterkin’s commitment to Virginia Tech is a setback for North Carolina, the Tar Heels already have 14 commitments for the Class of 2025, including a 3-star wide receiver, Evan Haynes. If Peterkin had chosen UNC, he would have been the Tar Heels’ fourth 4-star recruit.
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