WAUWATOSA - In the end, J.P. Tokoto couldn't pass up the opportunity to play for one of the marquee programs in men's college basketball.

Tokoto, a highly recruited junior forward from Menomonee Falls, announced Thursday night during a press conference at Dave and Buster's that he's heading to North Carolina after his prep career is over. Tokoto can make his decision official by signing a letter of intent in the fall.

One of the most hotly recruited players in the history of Wisconsin prep basketball, Tokoto chose coach Roy Williams and the Tar Heels over a host of successful programs that included two schools in his backyard, the University of Wisconsin and Marquette.

"It felt like it was home to me," Tokoto said of his visit to North Carolina two years ago after his freshman season. "Wisconsin's definitely home, but when I got down to North Carolina it felt like something different."

The 6-foot-6, 190-pound Tokoto recently narrowed a large list of teams chasing him down to a final eight: Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Marquette, Maryland, North Carolina, UCLA and UW.

Tokoto said his decision came down to North Carolina and UW, which offered him a scholarship two years ago.

"I'm coming to the University of North Carolina to play for you," Tokoto told Williams in a phone conversation after he announced his decision. Tokoto ended the conversation by telling Williams he loved him.

The Badgers had made Tokoto their top priority in their 2012 recruiting class, with coach Bo Ryan taking the lead in trying to get the athletic Tokoto to stay in state and play at UW. There, he would have joined another state product, Sheboygan Lutheran forward Sam Dekker, who orally committed to UW last summer. To date, Dekker is the lone commitment in the Badgers' 2012 class.

Tokoto said he left a message for Ryan prior to UW's game at Indiana on Thursday night.

Like Ryan, Williams made Tokoto a high priority for his program and made several visits to Wisconsin to watch Tokoto play.

Tokoto said style of play - the Tar Heels are high-tempo, while the Badgers are much more deliberate - didn't play a major role in his decision.

"I like to get up and down the floor, but at the same time I felt like if I went to Wisconsin I'd fit right in with the offense," Tokoto said. "It's not like they're a walk-it-up-the-floor type of offense."

Tokoto is averaging 20.5 points as a junior at Menomonee Falls, which is 11-11 and will play at Waukesha South in a WIAA Division 1 regional final on Saturday.

Several national recruiting services have Tokoto ranked among the top players in the 2012 class.

Longtime evaluator Bob Gibbons, who runs the All Star Report, rates Tokoto as the 10th-best junior in the nation.

Rivals.com has Tokoto ranked No. 40 overall in the 2012 class and 10th among small forwards.

ESPN ranks Tokoto No. 32 overall and No. 4 among small forwards in the class.

Tokoto said he felt relieved that the recruiting process was over.

"Before this, I was kind of nervous," Tokoto said. "I feel great now that I got it out. I feel like we can go focus on other things."