By R.L. Bynum
WASHINGTON — Nyla Brooks put on a show close to home on Friday afternoon.
Brooks, from nearby Alexandria, Va., the five-star incoming freshman for North Carolina, scored 28 points, two 3-pointers, pulled down 10 rebounds, and got two steals in the Jordan Brand Classic at CareFirst Arena.
Game organizers didn’t allow a postgame interview with Brooks.
Her Team Air squad lost 126–108 to Team Flight, but she couldn’t have done much more. UConn recruit Kelis Fisher added 23 points for Team Air. Oklahoma recruit Aaliyah Chavez led the winners with 24 points and UCLA-bound Sienna Betts had 22 points.
The 6–1 wing is 20th in the Class of 2025 according to ESPN. Brooks is part of UNC’s three-player Class of 2025, including five-star wing Taliyah Henderson (21st in the class) and four-star forward Taissa Queiroz (76th). Queiroz enrolled at UNC for the spring semester and practiced with the team for the last part of the season.
She also played in the McDonald’s All-American game in Brooklyn in early April, contributing 11 points, four rebounds and two steals, and was a team-high +9.
Brooks was the UNC program’s first McDonald’s All-American since Kayla McPherson, Destiny Adams (now at Rutgers), and Teonni Key (now at Kentucky) in 2021.
She led Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Va., to a 27–6 record and the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association Division I state championship, beginning of March by scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the 58–51 win over Paul VI Catholic High School in the state final on March 1.
Brooks followed that up by leading the Cardinals to the championship in the eight-team national tournament, The Thorn, in East Rutherford, N.J., as the No. 6 seed. Brooks earned finals MVP honors after collecting 25 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks on 9 of 16 shooting in the 61–44 victory over Sidwell Friends.
Team Flight 126, Team Air 108
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 |
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