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.
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
Year | No. | Players | Pos. | Height | |
Freshman | — | Blanca Thomas (5 star) | C | 6–5 | |
Freshman | — | Jordan Zubich (4 star) | G | 5–11 | |
RS Freshman | 21 | Ciera Toomey | F | 6–4 | |
RS Freshman | 4 | Laila Hull | W | 6–1 | |
Sophomore | 22 | RyLee Grays | F | 6–3 | |
Sophomore | 10 | Reniya Kelly | PG | 5–7 | |
Sophomore | 15 | Sydney Barker | PG | 5–6 | |
RS Junior | 11 | Kayla McPherson | PG | 5–8 | |
RS Junior | 13 | Teonni Key | F | 6–4 | |
Junior | 24 | Indya Nivar | G | 5–10 | |
Senior | 5 | Maria Gakdeng | C | 6–3 | |
Players eligible for fifth season | |||||
Graduate | 20 | Lexi Donarski | G | 6–0 | |
Graduate | 25 | Deja Kelly | PG | 5–8 | |
Graduate | 31 | Anya Poole | F | 6–2 | |
Graduate | 1 | Alyssa Ustby | F | 6–1 | |
Graduate | 0 | Alexandra Zelaya | F | 6–4 | |
ESPN rank | Class of 2025 | ||||
22nd | Lanie Grant (5 star) | G | 5–9 |
Photo via @usabjnt