Pinson chooses UNC instead of IU

Theo Pinson, considered among IU's top recruiting targets for the 2014 recruiting class opted Wednesday to stick with the hometown team, committing to North Carolina in a ceremony at his school.

The 6-foot-5 wing from High Point, N.C., who has drawn comparison to former Hoosier and like NBA lottery pick Victor Oladipo, made his announcement just after noon. From the moment the announcement time was set several days prior, general speculation had Pinson heading to Bloomington.

IU, after all, was the only school to receive an official visit from Pinson out of a field of suitors that also included Duke, Louisville and Georgetown, among others.

However, word on the twittersphere began to point increasingly toward the Tar Heels as the announcement approached. By Wednesday morning, there were numerous reports that Pinson would stay home.

Pinson is a five-star recruit ranked No. 15 nationally for the 2014 class by rivals.com. With only a pair of seniors on next season's squad, IU will have two open scholarships for the 2014-15 season. One is set to be filled by Marion, Ind. guard James Blackmon Jr., an IU commit since his freshman year of high school.