By R.L. Bynum
Guard Lanie Grant, the only Carolina women’s basketball commitment for the Class of 2025, earned a spot on the United States U16 team over the weekend and, on Monday, ESPN moved her from a four-star to a five-star player and from No. 23 in her class to No. 20.
Grant’s team will play in the FIBA Women’s U16 Americas Championship from June 13–19 in Merida, Mexico. High school players graduating in 2025 or 2026 make up the team, but Grant is one of only four Class of 2025 players on the 12-girl roster. Fifty-five players tried out for the team in Colorado Springs, Colo., during a 10-day training camp.
ESPN ranks the versatile 5–9 Grant, who has grown three inches in the last 16 months. She is a rising junior at James River High School in Midlothian, Va. Last season, Grant averaged 28.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 41% from 3-point range and 86% from the free-throw line.
Incarnate Word Academy coach Dan Rolfes will coach the team, playing in Group A with Colombia, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
After opening at 7:30 p.m. June 13 against Puerto Rico, the U.S. team plays Colombia at 7:30 p.m. on June 14 and Mexico at 10 p.m. on June 15. The quarterfinals are June 17, the semifinals are on June 18 and the championship game is on June 19.
The United States is 34–1 all-time in women’s U16 competition and has won the last three gold medals. The games will stream on FIBA’s YouTube channel.
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(UNC is one below the 15-player limit)
| Year | No. | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 11 | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 52 | 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 | 5 | Sophie Burrows — X | G | 6–2 | |
| Senior | 8 | 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 via @JRHS_GBB
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