By R.L. Bynum
Perseverance and drive to reach the moment have been motivating forces for Taliyah Henderson for more than a year.
When she plays at Carmichael Arena in her Carolina debut on opening day, that will be 468 days after she last cut hard off a screen, showed her speed running up the floor or swished a jumper in a game that counts.
That day has been the goal since she tore her left ACL in an AAU game in July 2024, changing everything.
“I jump-stopped, I got pushed from behind and tore a lot of things,” Henderson said of the play that led the five-star McDonald’s All-America Game nominee, ranked No. 27 in the Class of 2025, to miss her senior high school season at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Ariz., because her goal was to be ready for her freshman season with the Tar Heels.
For most athletes, one knee surgery is enough to shake their confidence. Henderson has had two before even stepping on the court for UNC — the first a right meniscus tear that took away much of her junior season.
“When you get hurt the first time, you start to wonder what happened,” Henderson said. “When it happens twice, you start to worry about everything else.”
She has been fortunate to have a good support system along the way, and that has continued since she arrived on the UNC campus in the summer.
“All I had to focus on was getting better and playing again, because no injury is going to stop me from doing the thing I love,” said Henderson, who has three younger siblings, Anniah, 13, and twins Milah and Trey, 10, who are all active in sports. Her mom, Danica, was a forward and center at Idaho State and her dad, Anthony, was a running back and linebacker at that school.
Henderson’s decision to commit to her freshman season instead of rushing back for a senior high school season has shaped her approach to every day.
Some programs might have wavered after a recruit suffered a second knee surgery, but Coach Courtney Banghart remained committed to the 6–1 wing.
“One of the reasons why I did commit here is because of Coach Banghart and the staff’s belief in me,” said Henderson, who likely will play mostly at the 3 spot. “She was able to breathe confidence into me that I didn’t know I needed. That belief makes me feel confident to be who I am and continue to learn and grow every day.”
Banghart saw too many positives from Henderson not to continue supporting her.
“Taliyah would have been a McDonald’s [All-American], but she was hurt,” Banghart said. “She makes Alyssa [Ustby] look at times slow — she’s that athletic. She can really shoot it, she wants to learn, and she’s going to be special here.”
Henderson’s recruiting story reflects how long she’s been seen as a rising star. There were a couple of defining moments in 2018 when she was only 13 years old.
That’s when she got her first scholarship offer from Utah Valley, after attending their camp there in the summer before she started eighth grade.
“It was a great start to my journey,” she said. “It only went up from there.”
More than 30 schools eventually offered her scholarships, including a late push from UConn. But Carolina was always in her heart, ever since she visited during that same summer.
She was at N.C. A&T to run at a Junior Olympics track meet, and her family decided to drive over to see the UNC campus. Carmichael Arena’s floor was being worked on that day, and the entrance was marked with a sign directing people to stay off the court.
“My dad was like, ‘Go step on that court,’ ” Henderson said, laughing. “You will be the first person to be on that court. And I did. I ran on it, and it was a super-cool moment. I was like, wow. This did kind of plant a seed, because I told myself I would live here after everything was done. It’s full-circle moment, being back on that court.”
That first trip east also made her fall in love with the area. Growing up in Vail, Ariz., near Tucson, Chapel Hill felt like another world.
“I’ve always loved the East Coast,” she said. “I grew up in Arizona, and it’s hot and it’s a desert. When I got to go to nationals for track, and I saw this green, I loved it.”
She acknowledges that there are weather adjustments.
“I will take humidity over dry heat any day. I’ve been wearing hoodies here — which you can’t really do in Arizona — and I love it,” Henderson said. “Apparently, I’m not prepared for winter, but I’m excited to see it. This area really just calls to me.”
Henderson’s basketball identity stretches beyond the U.S. border. She was born in British Columbia, where her mom is from, and holds dual citizenship.
In summer 2024, just weeks before her ACL tear, she started every game for Canada’s U18 national team that won the silver medal at the FIBA AmeriCup in Colombia, averaging 9.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. Henderson (No. 3 in the white uniforms in the video below) collected 17 points and nine rebounds in a 66–58 quarterfinals win over Mexico. She’s one of five current Tar Heels who have played for their countries in international competition.1
Henderson didn’t start out dreaming of being a basketball star. Track was her first love, and she was good at it — good enough to start running competitively at age four and eventually specialize at 400 (a personal best of 56.4 seconds) and 800 meters (PR of 2 minutes, 15 seconds).
She won 400- and 800-meter state titles her freshman season to lead Salpointe to the state team title. Another team title followed as a sophomore, when she won state titles in the 400 meters and the 4×800 relay.
Henderson will be far from the first track star to play basketball at Carolina; the most notable being Marion Jones, who was part of the 1994 national championship team.
“I’ve loved watching her run, and it’s just great to know that that connection is there,” Henderson said.
Basketball only entered the picture later, almost on a whim.
“I tried it in fifth or sixth grade,” Henderson said. “And I loved it because it was indoors, and I lived in Arizona, so air conditioning was a real thing.”
Her mom was her first coach and told her that she could “go places” by playing basketball.
“I wanted to go D1 for track, so I kind of took it with a grain of salt, until my club — my local team — and my middle school coach pointed me in the right direction to a former college coach and a coach that I played for about three years,” Henderson said.
That guidance changed everything.
“Until then, I just played it for fun,” she said. “And then when I realized that I could go somewhere and play the sport that I love, I switched. And then I just worked for my dreams.”
Her background as a runner is part of what makes her so dangerous on the basketball floor. She won two state basketball titles at Salpointe, including the school’s first when she was a freshman, when she averaged 11.5 points and 5.4 rebounds.
“Being a part of that team was an amazing opportunity,” said Henderson, who was also part of a state title basketball team her junior season. “It was a great learning experience from the seniors, and also a great feeling to be a part of something that nobody’s ever done before.”
Henderson averaged 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds as a sophomore and 15.1 points and 7.9 rebounds with 42% 3-point shooting as a junior. In her 75-game high school career, she shot 50% from the floor, 34% from 3-point range and 74% from the free-throw line, with 46 steals, 25 assists and four blocks.
After hurting both knees, she decided that it would be smart to pick track or basketball rather than try to participate in both.
“I took basketball. You will see my speed out on the basketball court — do not worry,” she said.
Her athleticism is what stands out first, but Henderson’s game is also built on versatility. She can defend guards or posts. She has the quickness to switch onto smaller players and the strength to hold her own against taller ones. She is left-handed but comfortable finishing with either hand, making her a matchup problem.
“It doesn’t matter if I’m guarding someone 6–8 or 5–5,” she said. “I will be able to guard those positions and do a good job at it.”
Her freshman season will be her first real stretch of basketball in about 16 months, but Henderson insists she will be ready. She plays every practice like it could be her last — an attitude forged from months of waiting.
She has the advantage of comparing notes and experiences with teammate Ciera Toomey, who has also dealt with knee injuries and had to redshirt during her first season at UNC. Henderson can also see the harsh reality for student assistant Kayla McPherson, who retired as a player during the offseason because of persistent knee issues.
“I talk to Ciera about this all the time,” she said. “I play every practice, every game, any scenario, like it’s my last because it very well could be. That extra fire and effort that I play with is because I want to make sure that, God forbid, if it is my last time playing, I went out with a bang.”
The Tar Heels’ freshman class has already bonded closely, living together and training together. Henderson rooms with fellow freshmen Nyla Brooks and Taissa Queiroz, as well as sophomore guard Lanie Grant.
“If one of us goes [to the gym], we all go,” Henderson said. “Having people who want to get to the same level as you — WNBA, pro basketball — really allows you to grow more than if you were by yourself.”
For now, Henderson’s goals are simple: to be the best version of herself, to get better every day, and to help her team win. Getting back on the court for a game will feel like the ultimate reward.
Now she’s practicing on the same floor she snuck onto as a kid, but as a Tar Heel ready to leave her mark.
If all goes as planned for her debut on Nov. 3 against N.C. Central, it won’t just be a full-circle moment. It will be the start of something big for her and a talented Carolina team.
- Other current Tar Heels who have represented their countries in international competition are sophomore guards Elina Aarnisalo (Finland; 8 competitions) and Lanie Grant (United States; 2024 U17 World Cup and 2023 Americas Championship), senior guard Indya Nivar (United States; 2022 U18 Americas Championship) and freshman guard Taissa Queiroz (Brazil; 4 competitions).
| Year | No. | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 5 | Liza Astakhova (LEE-zah uh-STAH-koh-vuh) | W | 6–2 | |
| Freshman | 7 | Nyla Brooks | W | 6–1 | |
| Brooks brings dazzling skills, confidence to UNC | |||||
| Freshman | 3 | Taliyah Henderson | W | 6–1 | |
| Long wait, journey for 5-star freshman Henderson after second knee surgery nearly over | |||||
| Freshman | 26 | Taissa Queiroz | G | 6–1 | |
| Queiroz came to USA from Brazil to chase her dreams | |||||
| Sophomore | 17 | Elina Aarnisalo (EH-lee-nah AHR-nee-sah-loh) | G | 5–10 | |
| Aarnisalo brings flash, IQ and pro experience to backcourt | |||||
| Sophomore | 0 | Lanie Grant | G | 5–9 | |
| Sophomore | 34 | Blanca Thomas | C | 6–5 | |
| Sophomore | 1 | 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 | |
| Senior | 2 | Nyla Harris | F | 6–2 | |
| It was hard for Harris to say ‘no’ to UNC again | |||||
| 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 | Vail, Ariz. |
| Taissa Queiroz | Four star | No. 77 | Guard | 6–1 | Santa Rosa, Calif. |
| Liza Astakhova | — | — | Wing | 6–1 | Moscow, Russia |
| Date | Day/month | Time | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV/ record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | ||||
| 30 | Thursday | L, 91–82 | No. 3 South Carolina in Atlanta | Exhib. |
| November | ||||
| 3 | Monday | W, 90–42 | vs. N.C. Central | 1–0 |
| 6 | Thursday | W, 71–37 | vs. Elon | 2–0 |
| WBCA Challenge Las Vegas | ||||
| 13 | Thursday | L, 78–60 | vs. No. 4 UCLA | 2–1 |
| 15 | Saturday | W, 82–68 | vs. Fairfield | 3–1 |
| ——————————— | ||||
| 20 | Thursday | W, 85–50 | at N.C. A&T | 4–1 |
| 23 | Sunday | W, 94–48 | vs. UNCG | 5–1 |
| Cancun Challenge Cancun, Mexico | ||||
| 27 | Thursday | W, 83–48 | vs. South Dakota St. | 6–1 |
| 28 | Friday | W, 85–73 | vs. Kansas State | 7–1 |
| 29 | Saturday | W, 80–63 | vs. Columbia | 8–1 |
| December | ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge | |||
| 4 | Thursday | W, 79–64 | at No. 2 Texas | 8–2 |
| ——————————— | ||||
| 7 | Sunday | W, 82–40 | vs. Boston Univ. | 9–2 |
| 14 | Sunday | L, 76–66, OT | vs. No. 10 Louisville | 9–3, 0–1 ACC |
| 17 | Wednesday | W, 84–34 | vs. UNCW | 10–3 |
| 21 | Sunday | W, 93–74 | vs. Charleston Southern | 11–3 |
| 29 | Monday | W, 90–38 | at Boston College | 12–3, 1–0 ACC |
| January | ||||
| 1 | Thursday | W, 71–55 | vs. California | 13–3, 2–0 |
| 4 | Sunday | L, 77–71, OT | vs. Stanford | 13–4, 2–1 |
| 11 | Sunday | L, 73–50 | at Notre Dame | 13–5, 2–2 |
| 15 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | vs. Miami | ACCN Extra |
| 18 | Sunday | 2 p.m. | at Florida State | The CW |
| 22 | Thursday | 8 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | ACCN |
| 25 | Sunday | 2 p.m. | vs. Syracuse | The CW |
| February | ||||
| 2 | Monday | 6 p.m. | at N.C. State | ESPN2 |
| 5 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | vs. Clemson | ACCN |
| 8 | Sunday | 2 p.m. | vs. Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 12 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | vs. SMU | ACCN |
| 15 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | at Duke | ABC |
| 19 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | at Virginia Tech | ACCN |
| 22 | Sunday | Noon | vs. Pittsburgh | ACCN |
| 26 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | at Virginia | ACCN Extra |
| March | ||||
| 1 | Sunday | Noon | vs. Duke | ESPN |
| ACC tournament | ||||
| 4–8 | Wed.-Sun | Gas South Arena, Duluth, Ga. | ||
| NCAA tournament | ||||
| 20–24 | Fri.-Mon. | First, second rounds | ||
| 27–30 | Fri.-Mon. | Regionals Fort Worth, Texas, and Sacramento, Calif. | ||
| April | ||||
| 3, 5 | Fri., Sun | Final Four Phoenix |
UNC photos courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications; Canada photo courtesy of FIBA
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