Michael Malone and UNC tries pull top transfer portal guard away from Michigan originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

One week after Michael Malone was announced as the new head basketball coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels, the roster building has started to accelerate. There are a few priorities outside retaining existing talent, especially with the transfer portal window open.

The past few days have been a whirlwind on the national scene. Over 2,000 players have entered the portal, but there are only a handful with top-tier experience looking to upgrade from their previous stop. One of those is Wake Forest guard Juke Harris. The former four-star is top for his position and fielding offers from Michigan, UNC and others.

Harris was spotted at the Wolverines' championship parade on Saturday and back home in Salisbury, NC on Sunday. Just in time for Malone and his staff to swoop in for an 11th-hour visit to try and get the No. 3 portal talent to be at Chapel Hill next year. The former NBA champion coach, along with assistants Sean May and Chuck Martin, met with Harris for brunch on Sunday morning at The Palm Cafe.

Pictured: Mike Malone and UNC staff in a last minute lunch meeting, making a desperate persuasion push for standout transfer prospect, Juke Harris 💰 pic.twitter.com/5uj0e2hmGz

The recruiting pitch was captured with a picture posted on social media, and was predicted by Inside Carolina about 12 hours before the meeting.

More: UNC Tar Heels Basketball transfer portal tracker live updates, news on commits

Harris would be a tremendous addition for Malone and the Tar Heels. The former Wake Forest standout averaged 21.4 points and 6.5 rebounds last season. If UNC beats out Michigan for Harris' recruitment, he'll stay closer to home with an opportunity to star on a rebuilt team. In Ann Arbor, he'll be on a championship-winning team looking to repeat next season.

Two very different paths but still with the common goal for Harris to eventually be in the NBA.

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