Another North Carolina high school football prospect has picked a service academy to continue his career. Meanwhile, Appalachian State and North Carolina collected high-profile 2026 commitments, moving both school up the national recruiting rankings.
Here’s the NC Recruiting Buzz for June 25:
Charlotte Catholic three-star DL standout pledges for Army
Dominic Basrawala has been dominant on the football field and the wrestling mats for Charlotte Catholic. He earned all-conference honors for the second time on the gridiron in 2024 and finished third in the heavyweight wrestling state championships this past winter.
After fielding more than 15 Division I offers, Basrawala chose to commit to Army. He also had offers from Air Force and Navy, and took recent visits to East Carolina and Virginia Tech. Appalachian State, Charlotte, ECU, Wake Forest and Gardner-Webb were among his in-state offers.
Basrawala recorded 55 tackles for Charlotte Catholic (9-3) last fall, including 7.0 tackles-for-loss and a team-best 4.5 sacks. He also blocked a punt. He’s listed at 6-3.5 and 250 pounds and has a GPA of 4.0.
App State building one of top recruiting classes in ‘Group of Six’
Appalachian State football keeps adding 2026 commitments – and moving up the recruiting rankings.
Coach Dowell Loggains and the Mountaineers added a 21st commit on Wednesday, flipping three-star safety Micah Williams from Savannah, Ga. (Benedictine Military School) from James Madison.
The latest addition bumped App State’s 2026 football recruiting class to 43rd best in the FBS, according to 247Sports, and 53rd best per On3. The Mountaineers have been on top of the Sun Belt Conference through most of the spring and summer recruiting cycle.
Appalachian State has the top “Group of Six” recruiting class in On3’s rankings and the second-best G6 class from 247Sports – one spot behind South Florida. App State’s 2026 recruit lineup includes 17 three-star prospects.
Williams had been considered James Madison’s highest profile commit before the flip. Williams (6-0, 200) picked off four passes – returning one for a touchdown – and made 80 tackles last season. He also had offers from North Carolina, Wake Forest, West Virginia, UCF, Kansas, Georgia Tech and Charlotte among others.
A visit to Appalachian State over the weekend helped sway Williams to pick Boone over Harrisonburg.
UNC adds two to 2026 recruiting haul
Four-star safety Jamarrion “Juice” Gordon (Jackson, AL) and three-star tight end/offensive lineman Aidan Woods (Abingdon, Va.) joined North Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class this week. UNC’s 2026 class now has 23 commits and moved up to No. 22 in the 247Sports rankings.
It is noteworthy that UNC and coach Bill Belichick got Gordon out of his home state. Gordon had previously been committed to Alabama (and UCF) per On3.
The 6-0, 185 ball-hawk safety had more than 30 offers, including many of the SEC’s top programs – Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss. Florida State and Oklahoma State also were among his finalists.
Woods ranks as the No. 35 prospect in Virginia. The 6-5, 280 pounder had UNC and West Virginia among his top schools. He visited Virginia Tech, Appalachian State, Virginia and Liberty, per Tar Heel Illustrated. Woods also plays basketball and baseball.
Three-star Indiana tight end picks Wake Forest
Tight end Dominick Barry from Greenwood, IN (Center Grove HS) committed to Wake Forest on June 23. The three-star prospect is the No. 18 player in Indiana and the No. 65 tight end nationally.
Barry had 13 offers, including from Duke, Indiana, Cincinnati and Kansas. As a junior, Barry made 31 catches and scored five touchdowns.
Upcoming commitment announcement | PJ Dean
Per On3 Sports, four-star offensive lineman Pierre Dean from Clemmons (West Forsyth HS) will reveal his college commitment on June 30. Dean, one of the top 2026 players still uncommitted, has Georgia, Ohio State and South Carolina in his top three.
