By R.L. Bynum
Incoming UNC freshman center Blanca Thomas is one of 26 players invited to try out for USA Basketball’s U18 National team, which will represent the United States in the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup on June 17–23 in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
Thomas, a 6–5 former star at Charlotte Catholic High School, was rated No. 31 in ESPN’s Class of 2024 rankings and is one of three incoming UNC freshmen, along with guards Lanie Grant and Jordan Zubich.
Thomas is one of 12 members of the high school Class of 2024 who is expected to compete for roster spots, along with 14 players in the Class of 2025. The tryouts will begin Wednesday at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The selected team will reconvene in Colorado Springs on June 8.
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Other Class of 2024 players invited to the tryout include UConn signee Sarah Strong (who picked the Huskies over UNC and Duke), N.C. State signee Zamareya Jones and Duke signee Arianna Roberson.
Other Class of 2024 players at the tryout are expected to be South Carolina signees Joyce Edwards and Madisen McDaniel, USC signees Kayleigh Heckel and Kennedy Smith, as well as Jordan Lee (headed to Texas), Alivia McGill (Florida), Zania Socka-Nguemen (UCLA) and Me’Arah Oneal (Florida).
UCLA signee Sienna Betts is the only member of the Class of 2025 trying out for the team who has committed to a college. Other Class of 2025 players to try out are Divine Bourrage, Nyla Brooks, Kaelyn Carroll, Jasmine Davidson, Madison Francis, Layla Hays, Adelaide Jernigan, Zakiyah Johnson, Grace Knox, Leah Macy, Brynn McGaughy, Mia Pauldo and Aubrey Shaw.
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 |
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 courtesy of USA Basketball
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