By R.L. Bynum
Incoming UNC guard Lanie Grant is one of 44 players who will try out for the team representing the United States at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup from July 13 to 21 in Irapuato and Leon, Mexico.
Grant, one of 10 17-year-olds trying out, is the only incoming college freshman trying out for the team. The rest of the players will graduate from high school in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028. Grant reclassified after earning Gatorade Virginia Girls Basketball Player of the Year honors in her junior season at James River High School in Midlothian, Va.
The tryouts to pick the 12-member USA Basketball Women’s U17 National team begin on May 23 at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Meg Barber of New York University will be the head coach.
Grant was part of the 2023 American team that won gold last June at the FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup, which was also held in Mexico. All 11 of her teammates on that team are also invited to the trials.
Grant is part of the Tar Heels’ three-player incoming freshman class, including Mountain Iron, Minn., guard Jordan Zubich and former Charlotte Catholic center Blanca Thomas.
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Thomas will be in Colorado Springs beginning Wednesday to try out for the team representing the United States at the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup from June 17 to 23 in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
The class of 2025 players at the U17 trials will be Darriana ‘Dee’ Alexander, Carly Amborn, Taylor Barnes, Zhen Craft, Aaliyah Crump, Alexandra Eschmeyer, Kelis Fisher, Holland Harris, Lauren Hurst, Keziah Lofton, Emilee Skinner, Jordan Speiser and Hailee Swain.
The 2026 graduates are Jacy Abii, Kelsi Andrews, Addison Bjorn, Amari Byles, Brihanna Crittendon, Autumn Fleary, Sanai Green, Maddyn Greenway, Saniyah Hall, Kate Harpring, Jayla ‘Jordyn’ Jackson, Trinity Jones, Lola Lampley, Jerzy Robinson, McKenna Woliczko and Lanelle Wright.
At the tryouts from the Class 2027 are Haylen Ayers, Jezelle ‘GG’ Banks, Ryan Carter, Ginny Anne Dumont, Jayla Forbes, Lauren Hassell, Eve Long, Ashley MacCalla, Jessie Moses, Jordyn Palmer, Kaleena Smith, Nation Williams and Ivana Wilson-Manyacka. Sydney Douglas is a member of the class of 2028.
Players trying out for team
Projected roster if all players with eligibility other than Elina Aarnisalo, Lanie Grant,, Taliyah Henderson and Liza Ashtakhova and Liza Ashtakhova return, with years listed for next season (UNC is one below the 15-player limit)
| Year | No./ Stars | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 5 star | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 52/4 star | Noelle Bofia | F | 6–4 | |
| Sophomore | 3 | Gabby White — W | G | 5–10 | |
| Sophomore | 7 | Nyla Brooks | W | 6–1 | |
| Sophomore | 26 | Taissa Queiroz | G | 6–1 | |
| Junior | 34 | Blanca Thomas | C | 6–5 | |
| Junior | 1 | Jordan Zubich | G | 5–11 | |
| RS junior | 21 | Ciera Toomey | F | 6–4 | |
| RS junior | 4 | Laila Hull | W | 6–1 | |
| Senior | Sophie Burrows — X | G | 6–2 | ||
| Senior | 11 | Achol Akot — Y | F | 6–1 | |
| Senior | 10 | Reniya Kelly | G | 5–7 | |
| Senior | 15 | Sydney Barker | G | 5–6 | |
| Graduate | 13 | Chloe Clardy — Z | G | 5–9 |
W — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; Z — Stanford transfer
Former players who entered transfer portal
| Player | Class next season | Pos. | Hgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elina Aarnisalo | Junior | G | 5–10 | UCLA |
| Lanie Grant | Junior | G | 5–9 | TCU |
| Taliyah Henderson | Sophomore | W | 6–1 | Clemson |
| Liza Astakhova | Sophomore | G | 6–2 | BYU |
Photo courtesy of USA Basketball
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