By R.L. Bynum
“Remember me?”
That was Coach Courtney Banghart’s text to Maria Gakdeng, the same the March day the 6–3 center entered the transfer portal. UNC’s coach didn’t hesitate at a second chance to lure the tenacious defender and rebounder who picked Boston College over the Tar Heels coming out of high school.
“We knew we needed a big, and I thought we did a good job getting one,” Banghart said. “Maria is really good and fun to watch.”
The match was natural.
Carolina wanted to add a player with a physical inside presence, and Gakdeng is disruptive with her long wingspan and shot-blocking ability. She wanted a chance to contend for a national championship, which was highly unlikely with the Eagles.
“I was just really happy to hear from her,” said Gakdeng, who wanted to stay in the ACC and considered Louisville and Notre Dame. “I saw they needed someone like me — a post presence, a shot blocker, someone who can get on the glass, rebound, run the floor. So, I saw myself in the program in that way.”
She knew she loved the coaches and that the Tar Heels were becoming one of the best programs in the country. She didn’t know as much about the culture, but a campus visit sold her on trading Chestnut Hill for Chapel Hill.
Gakdeng, a junior, was satisfied at Boston College — where she averaged 10.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in two seasons — but wanted more.
“I wanted a challenge; I wanted to step up how I play on the court,” said Gakdeng, who got her first scholarship offer when she was a sophomore in high school. “The people around me have a more positive environment and a culture that cultivates winning and building each other up by winning, so this is why Carolina attracted me.”
She’s gone from a program that last made the NCAA tournament in 2006 to one where NCAA berths are routine and expectations are high.
“I think it brings a different level of having to go to work every single day and taking no days off,” Gakdeng said. “We have a mission, and we’re going to get there by any means. So, just knowing that I put in the work, not just for myself but so that my teammates can trust me, so we can get to that point of getting a national championship, making the Final Four. So that’s definitely something that has changed. And I’m really grateful.”
Gakdeng says the contrasts between BC and UNC are numerous, including the larger crowds for home games and the opportunities thanks to the school’s brand.
“Just knowing that they have things up here for us and then also just a brand that Jordan and UNC and the school bring to individuals is just unmatched compared to Boston College,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities here so far, and it’s only been a couple of months.”
Banghart’s three-player transfer-portal class — No. 2 in the country, according to 247Sports — and the highly touted five-player freshman class — No. 9, according to ESPN — give her a talented group of newcomers to join a veteran core, led by seniors Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby, along with other gifted young players.
Gakdeng, whom ESPN ranked as the No. 19 2023 transfer-portal player, joins the program along with former Iowa State senior guard Lexi Donarski (No. 6 on ESPN’s list) and former Stanford sophomore guard Indya Nivar.
“I’ll never forget the day she committed,” Banghart said. “Oh my gosh, I’m so happy. And she’s so lovable. I mean, the team loves her. She is so long, it’s ridiculous. She has great extension. She’s got a really soft touch. She’s incredibly coachable. I think she’s already making strides to be a little more skilled.”
Gakdeng gives the Tar Heels six players 6–2 or taller: 6–2 senior Anya Poole, 6–3 freshman RyLee Grays, 6–4 senior Alexandra Zelaya, 6–4 redshirt sophomore Teonni Key and five-star 6–4 freshman Ciera Toomey.
“It just really opens the rotation more,” Gakdeng said of having so many tall players, “which I think is going to be helpful, especially as we get deeper into the season.”
She is one of three BC players who entered the transfer portal, with center Ally Carman ending up at Iona. The other, sophomore guard Taina Mair, considered Texas but transferred to … Duke? Gakdeng earned ACC All-Freshman honors two years ago, and Mair did that last season.
“It’s really funny, just how things panned out,” Gakdeng said. “Once we both hit the portal, we would always talk about it. I was like, ‘if you go to Duke, that will be crazy.’ We’re still good friends, and we both know what’s going to happen when we step on the court, just understanding the rivalry.”
More important than her former teammate down the road, her new teammates have been welcoming and helped the admittedly introverted Gakdeng easily integrate with them on and off the court.
“As I got to see how open they are with each other, it allowed me to open up more and be my authentic self, which is just being funny, just being kind of sarcastic, kind of goofy,” Gakdeng said. “I feel like I’m a caring person, checking on people, making sure they’re good.
“They’re just really considerate and really caring,” Gakdeng said of her teammates. “Just having an environment where I felt like I could be myself; I feel like I have grown in that way and have been able to be myself around these people. So that’s why I chose Carolina.”
Gakdeng, a political science major, hopes to pursue corporate law or perhaps become a sports agent after her basketball career. She loves fashion, makeup and modeling, which matches up very well with some of Kelly’s many off-the-court interests.
“I really like her style and how she dresses, how her shoe game is, everything about it,” Gakdeng said of Kelly. “Just how she puts herself together, similar to how I put myself together. So, we do connect at that level.”
Gakdeng has been intent on growing her game since arriving in Chapel Hill and becoming more aggressive on the offensive end to create a post presence. Gakdeng, who blocked a career-high six shots at Notre Dame last season, says she has an innate ability, while taking advantage of her wingspan, to know when to go for a block and when not to.
Although she has gotten into foul trouble some during her first two seasons, she’s only fouled out once — in a 76–73 home loss to Carolina on Dec. 19, 2021, when she nearly had a double-double (11 points, nine rebounds, four assists) in 25 minutes.
“I do think that I need to get stronger in the post just because of my build. I was kind of lanky when I was younger,” said Gakdeng, who said strength-and-conditioning coach Andrew Graber has been very helpful. “That’s what I focus on in the weight room, and then in practice, implementing that, and I see myself getting stronger as well.”
Gakdeng, while still needing to improve her career 55.1% free-throw shooting, has better-than-average passing skills for a center.
She can pass out of a double-team on the low post and find an open perimeter shooter or quickly pass from the high post to another post player. She was proficient last season with bounce passes, and said she’s working in the offseason to be an even better passer.
In last season’s regular-season finale, a 73–63 win at Wake Forest, she collected 22 points (career-high), six rebounds, four assists (tied career-high) and four blocks.
Most family members are also tall; her parents played basketball in high school and her older brother plays at Prince George’s Community College. Her family moved in 1999 from South Sudan to Atlanta, where she was born, and they moved to Lanham, Md., in 2011.
Although Gakdeng has never been back to South Sudan, she has family across the country and embraces the culture. She’s met several South Sudanese students at UNC, including one whose parents went to school with her parents.
She’s fit right into the program and the campus in a short time. Now Tar Heels fans are eager to see her tenacious play in a Carolina uniform.
Gakdeng’s career-highs
Points: 22 at Wake Forest, Feb. 26, 2023
Field goals: 9 twice, last time at Syracuse, Feb. 5, 2023
Field-goal attempts: 13 twice, last time at Syracuse, Feb. 5, 2023
Field-goal percentage: 100% (7 of 7) vs. Sacred Heart, Dec. 21, 2021
Rebounds: 16 vs. Virginia, Feb. 3, 2022
Assists: 4 three times, last time at Wake Forest, Feb. 26, 2023
Steals: 3 four times, last time at Carolina, Feb. 12, 2023
Blocks: 6 at Notre Dame, Jan. 1, 2023
| Date | Day/month | Score | Opponent/event (current rank) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | ||||
| 8 | Wednesday | W, 102–49 | vs. Gardner-Webb | 1–0 |
| 12 | Sunday | W, 74–70 | vs. Davidson | 2–0 |
| 15 | Wednesday | W, 62–32 | vs. Hampton | 3–0 |
| 18 | Saturday | W, 68–39 | vs. Elon | 4–0 |
| Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla. | ||||
| 24 | Friday | W, 54–51 | Vermont | 5–0 |
| 25 | Saturday | L, 63–56 | No. 15 Kansas State | 5–1 |
| 26 | Sunday | L, 65–64 | Florida Gulf Coast | 5–2 |
| ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge | ||||
| 30 | Thursday | L, 65–58 | vs. No. 1 South Carolina | 5–3 |
| December | ||||
| 6 | Wednesday | W, 81–66 | vs. UNC Greensboro | 6–3 |
| Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase in Uncasville, Conn. | ||||
| 10 | Sunday | L, 76–64 | No. 10 Connecticut | 6–4 |
| ——————— | ||||
| 15 | Friday | W, 96–36 | vs. Western Carolina | 7–4 |
| Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte | ||||
| 19 | Tuesday | W, 61–52 | No. 18 Oklahoma | 8–4 |
| ACC season | ||||
| 31 | Sunday | W, 82–76 | vs. Clemson | 9–4, 1–0 ACC |
| January | ||||
| 4 | Thursday | W, 75–51 | vs. No. 22 Syracuse | 10–4, 2–0 ACC |
| 7 | Sunday | W, 61–57 | at No. 9 Notre Dame | 11–4, 3–0 ACC |
| 11 | Thursday | L, 70–62 | at Florida State | 11–5, 3–1 ACC |
| 14 | Sunday | W, 81–68 | vs. Virginia | 12–5, 4–1 ACC |
| 18 | Thursday | W, 73–68 | at Georgia Tech | 13–5, 5–1 ACC |
| 21 | Sunday | W, 79–68 | vs. No. 23 Louisville | 14–5, 6–1 ACC |
| 25 | Thursday | W, 66–61 | vs. Miami | 15–5, 7–1 ACC |
| 28 | Sunday | L, 81–66 | at Virginia | 15–6, 7–2 ACC |
| February | ||||
| 1 | Thursday | L, 63–59 | at No. 11 N.C. State | 15–7, 7–3 ACC |
| 4 | Sunday | L, 70–61, OT | vs. No. 13 Virginia Tech | 15–8, 7–4 ACC |
| 11 | Sunday | L, 68–60, OT | at Duke | 15–9, 7–5 ACC |
| 15 | Thursday | W, 75–62 | vs. Pittsburgh | 16–9, 8–5 ACC |
| 18 | Sunday | W, 58–50 | at Wake Forest | 17–9, 9–5 ACC |
| 22 | Thursday | W, 80–70 | vs. No. 11 N.C. State | 18–9, 10–5 ACC |
| 25 | Sunday | L, 74–62 | at No. 13 Virginia Tech | 18–10, 10–6 ACC |
| 29 | Thursday | L, 78–74 | at Boston College | 18–11, 10–7 ACC |
| March | ||||
| 3 | Sunday | W, 63–59 | vs. Duke | 19–11, 11–7 ACC |
| ACC tournament Greensboro Coliseum | ||||
| 7 | Thursday | L, 60–59 | Second round: vs. Miami | 19–12 |
| NCAA tournament Columbia, S.C. | ||||
| 22 | Friday | W, 59–56 | First round: Michigan State | 20–12 |
| 24 | Sunday | L, 88–41 | Second round: No. 1 South Carolina | 20–13 |
Potential UNC 2024–25 roster
| Year | No. | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | — | Lanie Grant (5 star) | PG | 5–10 | |
| 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 | 10 | Reniya Kelly | PG | 5–7 | |
| Sophomore | 15 | Sydney Barker | PG | 5–6 | |
| RS Junior | 11 | Kayla McPherson | PG | 5–8 | |
| Junior | 24 | Indya Nivar | G | 5–10 | |
| Senior | 5 | Maria Gakdeng | C | 6–3 | |
| Graduate | — | Grace Townsend | G | 5–5 | |
| Graduate | 20 | Lexi Donarski | G | 6–0 | |
| Graduate | 1 | Alyssa Ustby | F | 6–1 | |
| Graduate | 25 | Deja Kelly | G | 5–8 |
2023–24 UNC players to enter transfer portal
| Class | Player | Date entered | Pos. | Hgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | Paulina Paris | March 26 | G | 5–9 | Arizona |
| Graduate | Ali Zelaya | April 1 | F | 6–4 | UNCW |
| Graduate | Anya Poole | April 1 | F | 6–2 | Clemson |
| RS junior | Teonni Key | April 2 | F | 6–4 | Kentucky |
| Sophomore | RyLee Grays | April 5 | F | 6–3 | Virginia |
| Graduate | Deja Kelly | G | 5–8 | TBA |
Photos courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
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