Five-star Charlotte post player Thomas picks UNC over Duke, S.C., others

By R.L. Bynum

North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart continues to stack up the five-star players.

She added another one on Monday when 6–5 Charlotte Catholic post player Blanca Thomas became the second Carolina commitment in the Class of 2024, picking the Tar Heels over Duke, N.C. State, South Carolina, Stanford, Notre Dame, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.

ESPN ranks Thomas No. 10 in the class.

The Hokies were among the schools to offer Thomas a scholarship in January 2021, but the Tar Heels and Wolfpack extended offers in April 2021. South Carolina offered Thomas a scholarship in April 2022.

Thomas joins 5–11 guard Jordan Zubich of Mountain Iron, Minn., in UNC’s Class of 2024. She committed to Carolina in February. UNC already has a Class of 2025 commitment in 5–9 point guard Lanie Grant of Buchanan, Va.

Led by Thomas, Charlotte Catholic has won two straight Southwestern Conference titles and has made the last two state 4-A semifinals. She was The Charlotte Observer defensive player of the year last season.

She led her team, which went 25–7, with 16.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.2 blocks last season.

Thomas highlights start at 19 seconds.

Next season’s Carolina team will have six five-star players: Ciera Toomey, No. 4 in high school Class of 2023; Teonni Key, No. 9 in Class of 2021; Deja Kelly, No. 10 in Class of 2020; Iowa State transfer Lexi Donarski, No. 14 in Class of 2020; Stanford transfer Indya Nivar, No. 20 in Class of 2022; and Anya Poole, No. 49 in Class of 2020.


Potential UNC 2004–25 roster

YearNo.PlayersPos.Height
FreshmanBlanca Thomas (5 star)C6–5
FreshmanJordan Zubich (4 star)G5–11
RS Freshman21Ciera ToomeyF6–4
RS Freshman4Laila Hull W6–1
Sophomore22RyLee GraysF6–3
Sophomore10Reniya KellyPG5–7
Sophomore15Sydney BarkerPG5–6
RS Junior11Kayla McPhersonPG5–8
RS Junior13Teonni KeyF6–4
Junior24Indya NivarG5–10
Senior5Maria Gakdeng C6–3
Players eligible for fifth season
Graduate 20Lexi Donarski G6–0
Graduate25Deja Kelly PG5–8
Graduate31Anya PooleF6–2
Graduate1Alyssa Ustby F6–1
Graduate0Alexandra ZelayaF6–4
ESPN rankClass of 2025
22ndLanie Grant (5 star)G5–9

Photo via @usabjnt

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