By R.L. Bynum
A member of North Carolina’s women’s basketball coaching staff is leaving to become the associate head coach at another school for the second straight offseason.
After five years as an assistant coach under Coach Courtney Banghart at UNC, Adrian Walters will become the associate head coach for Texas Tech’s women’s program. In the previous offseason, Itoro Coleman left the Carolina staff to become the associate head coach at Virginia Tech under first-year head coach Megan Duffy.
Joanne Aluka-White is UNC’s associate head coach and has been on the staff since 2019.
The Red Raiders went 19–18 last season and lost in the third round of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
UNC made the NCAA tournament all five seasons with Walters on the staff, including a pair of second-round appearances and a Sweet 16 berth last season.
Before coming to Chapel Hill, Walters spent one season (2019–20) as an assistant coach for Alabama’s women’s program. He also spent seven years on the Auburn staff and was an assistant coach at Georgetown for the 2011–12 season.
Walters was an associate coach for the El Camino College men’s program for three seasons (2008–11) and was an associate head coach at Hampton (2006–07).
Projected UNC roster next season
(Next season’s class listed)
| Year | No. | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | — | Nyla Brooks | W | 6–2 | |
| Freshman | — | Taliyah Henderson | W | 6–1 | |
| Freshman | — | Taissa Queiroz | G | 6–1 | |
| Sophomore | 7 | Elina Aarnisalo | G | 5–10 | |
| Sophomore | 0 | Lanie Grant | PG | 5–10 | |
| Sophomore | 34 | Blanca Thomas | C | 6–5 | |
| Sophomore | 3 | Jordan Zubich | G | 5–11 | |
| RS sophomore | 21 | Ciera Toomey | F | 6–4 | |
| RS sophomore | 4 | Laila Hull | W | 6–1 | |
| Junior | 10 | Reniya Kelly | PG | 5–7 | |
| Junior | 15 | Sydney Barker | PG | 5–6 | |
| RS senior | 11 | Kayla McPherson | PG | 5–8 | |
| Senior | 2 | Nyla Harris | F | 6–2 | |
| Senior | 24 | Indya Nivar | G | 5–10 |
Class of 2025
| Player | Rating | ESPN rank | Position | Height | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nyla Brooks | Five star | No. 13 | Wing | 6–2 | Alexandria, Va. |
| Taliyah Henderson | Five star | No. 27 | Wing | 6–1 | Tucson, Ariz. |
| Taissa Queiroz | Four star | No. 77 | Guard | 6–1 | Santa Rosa, Calif. |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
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