By R.L. Bynum
RyLee Grays became the second former UNC player to commit to another ACC team when she announced that she would continue her career at Virginia.
The 6–3 forward from Pearland, Texas, who was ESPN’s No. 90 player in the Class of 2023 but only played five games at Carolina, made the announcement a little after midnight Eastern time on Tuesday in an Instagram post.
On Monday, Anya Poole committed to Clemson. Deja Kelly is the only one of the six UNC players to enter the transfer portal who hasn’t announced her plans after Paulina Paris committed to Arizona, Teonni Key to Kentucky and Ali Zelaya to UNCW.
In Virginia’s second season under Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, the Cavaliers were 16–16 after going 15–15 in her first season in Charlottesville.
Earlier, Virginia added two transfers: former Maryland 6–7 center Hawa Doumbouya and former Texas and Miami 6–4 forward Latasha Lattimore.
Former Cavaliers who entered the transfer portal were two graduate transfers, 6–1 wing Kaydan Lawson and 5–11 wing Mir McLean, and two guards, 5–11 sophomore Cady Pauley and 5–8 senior Alexia Smith. Smith committed to Missouri State and Smith to Oklahoma State.
Grays played a season-high seven minutes and scored a season-high four points on Dec. 15 against Western Carolina. After that, she only played in the Feb. 11 loss at Duke and got in for less than a minute, totaling 18 minutes, seven points and six rebounds for the season.
During her recruitment out of high school, Grays took unofficial visits to N.C. State, Florida, Florida State, Baylor, Texas, Oklahoma, SMU and Ole Miss.
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Projected roster if all players with eligibility other than Elina Aarnisalo, Lanie Grant,, Taliyah Henderson and Liza Ashtakhova and Liza Ashtakhova return, with years listed for next season (UNC is one below the 15-player limit)
| Year | No./ Stars | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 5 star | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 52/4 star | 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 | Sophie Burrows — X | G | 6–2 | ||
| Senior | 11 | 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 |
WW — Virginia transfer; — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; X — 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 by Michelle Robinnett/Hendricks Photography
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