By ZACH SMART
While he’s cognizant plans can change in a moment’s notice given the volatility of today’s recruiting climate, Class of 2026 Long Island Lutheran (NY) and PSA Cardinals guard Dylan Mingo said his upcoming visit to University of North Carolina could likely be his last visit.
A five star recruit, the 6-foot-5 Mingo was initially scheduled to visit UNC last week.
The government shutdowns and vast amount of flight cancellations, however, halted the plans.
Now Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis and staff will look to take advantage of the reschedule. Mingo remains as one of the country’s top-shelf unsigned recruits.
Having readied himself for a heavily anticipated senior year at LUHI by garnering MVP honors of the NBPA Top 100 Camp (he averaged 24 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds during the event), Mingo is hearing from UNC, Penn State, Washington, Baylor, Oklahoma, and Miami the most.
“I’m happy to go out there and see the UNC coaches in person for myself and get that experience,” Mingo said.
“Hubert Davis, he’s a good coach. They just made the Final Four a few years ago. They are just talking to me about my development and how I’m going to possibly fit right away as a freshman.”
Mingo echoed the sentiment of another New York native and PSA Cardinals product, Boogie Fland (currently at University of Florida), when he committed to John Calipari (then at Kentucky) three years ago.
“Nothing is guaranteed, everything you want (at the college level) you have to work for,” said Mingo, intrigued at the elite level in-house competition.
A big versatile point guard, Mingo said he would relish the daily grind of getting better at a tradition-rich Blue Blood program.
While the seasoned senior previously said he wants to have his decision finalized by the end of November or early December, he’s cognizant nothing is ever guaranteed in this topsy-turvy world of recruiting.
Excited to experience the tradition-rich culture at UNC, Mingo mentioned multiple iconic players UNC has nurtured the development of.
The top-ranked PG in New York also touched on local New York ties the program has sustained.
“Michael Jordan went there, the greatest player of all time,” Mingo said.
“UNC is definitely one of the most prestigious programs of all time. Their fan base is pretty big. It is serious. The amount of New York players they’ve had is definitely unique. With Ian (Jackson) going there (for a year), (Stepinac HS product) RJ Davis, and (fellow Long Island native) Danny Green going there, it is really exciting. Danny Green, he had a good career out there.”
Mingo and his older brother, former LUHI teammate and current Penn State freshman guard Kayden Mingo ((averaging 15.7 PPG, 6 RPG, and 4APG through the Nittany Lions’ opening trio of games), attended Green’s basketball camps on Long Island as kids.
Green, who enjoyed a 14-year NBA career, played at St. Mary’s HS and was instrumental in spearheading the Tar Heels to a 2009 national championship.
Dylan Mingo now inherits the leadership role left by his brother Kayden at the aforementioned national superpower LUHI.
Buoyed by a long wingspan, multi-positional defense, prolific three-level scoring, and creative play-making, Mingo is thrust into a prominent role as the focal point.
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