By R.L. Bynum
Coach Courtney Banghart is already off to a good start in trying to lure the best of the Class of 2026 to Carolina after evidently liking what she saw when she traveled to Mérida, Mexico, for the FIBA Women’s U16 Americas Championship.
Banghart was there for the start of the event to support five-star guard Lanie Grant, her only Class of 2025 commit, and recruit. Since the American team won the gold medal on Monday, news of Carolina scholarship offers for three of Grant’s USA teammates in the Class of 2026, all five-stars, has been posted on Twitter.
In the last two days, Carolina has offered scholarships to 6–2 wing McKenna Woliczko (who ESPN ranks No. 4 in the class), 6–0 guard Trinity Jones (No. 6) and 6–1 guard Jacy Abii (No. 9), all 15 years old.
Woliczko (top photo), who attends Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, Calif., collected 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals in the USA’s 79–59 victory Monday over Canada in the gold medal game. She averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds last season, leading her team to the state championship game.
Woliczko and her USA teammate Jerzy Robinson shared honors as MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year.
Jones (above photo), who attends Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill., averaged 20.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.2 blocks as a freshman.
Abii (above photo), who attends Liberty High School in Plano, Texas, had nine points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals against Canada. She averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals, leading Liberty to a state title.
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 |
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 | TBA |
| RS junior | Teonni Key | April 2 | F | 6–4 | Kentucky |
| Sophomore | RyLee Grays | April 5 | F | 6–3 | TBA |
| Graduate | Deja Kelly | April 8 | G | 5–8 | TBA |
Photos courtesy of FIBA
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