By R.L. Bynum
CHARLOTTE — Nyla Brooks showed during her sensational freshman season at Carolina that she’s not afraid to step into the spotlight in big moments.
In the final two minutes of Carolina’s second-round victory over Maryland, Brooks fired a shot from beyond the arc early in the shot clock, knowing a miss would give the Terps a chance to tie it. But her mammoth 3-pointer from the left wing was a big reason that the Tar Heels earned their second consecutive Sweet 16 berth.
Brooks, who also hit a big 3 late in the loss at Duke, started only once, but scored 63 3-pointers, shot 37.7% from beyond the arc, and provided plenty of energy off the bench. Indya Nivar, Elina Aarnisalo and Lanie Grant are gone, but even with an influx of newcomers, Brooks is poised for a breakout sophomore season.
She doesn’t plan to be shy about it, saying Monday at ACC Tipoff at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown that, “If I break out, I break out, which I plan to do.”
The shooting touch that made her a late-game weapon was not something many people expected when she arrived. Brooks said that even in high school, she was not known as a perimeter threat, which makes her willingness to take those shots in pressure situations all the more notable.
“They didn’t know me for a 3-point shooter,” said Brooks, who had multiple 3-pointers in 17 games last season, with at least three 10 times, at least four six times, and a season-high six against Charleston Southern. “But taking those big shots on the 3-point line? I mean, why not?”
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Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said a possible jump in her second begins with Brooks’ body. The Tar Heels’ staff pushed their returning players to improve as they added size and speed in the offseason, and Brooks, an All-ACC rookie, was among those they challenged most directly.
“She had to get a lot stronger,” Banghart said of Brooks evolution during her freshman season. “She came in really thin and wiry. She’s gotten a lot more physical, both as an offensive and defensive player, but also with the ball in her hand. So, she can handle the ball against pressure better. She’s much better with her left hand.”
Brooks said her offseason focus was on being consistent in what she already does well while adding to her game, and she named her left hand and her strength as the biggest areas of emphasis. She also said she has been working on scoring at every level, from her 3-point shot to her mid-range game and into the paint.
The improvement she wants most is finishing through contact.
“Getting stronger was a big part,” Brooks said. “I’ve got to get into the paint now and just finish over people and hold my own.”
Her path to that point was not always smooth. Brooks didn’t always get many minutes early in the season, and Banghart said defense was part of that equation. Banghart said Brooks became a much better defender, particularly during a January stretch when her shot wasn’t falling.
Brooks said the process tested her patience, but she leaned on conversations with her coaches and tried not to dwell on playing time.
“Them being transparent with me was good for me as a freshman,” she said. She added that she tried to trust that her opportunity would come. “I know the player I am, and I’m gonna keep working. If I want something, I’m gonna go get it for sure.”
That trust runs both ways. Brooks said her relationship with Banghart started in the recruiting process, when the coach told her she wanted her to make an impact, and it has grown into one where she can talk to her about anything.
“She gave me the opportunity to do that, so I feel like trust is a big thing as well with her,” Brooks said.
Banghart, asked about the same bond, responded with a smile: “She’s my dog too. She’s my big dog.”
Brooks said the versatility that allows her to rebound, shoot and handle the ball began long before she arrived in Chapel Hill. She credited her father, who steered her toward the right trainers and programs as a young player.
“I didn’t just get all of it overnight,” Brooks said. “I’m a sophomore in college, crazy to say, and I’m getting these opportunities. So, I just want to say thank you to God and CB for giving me the opportunity for sure.”
With so many newcomers, Brooks said she is learning from them as well, but she acknowledged that her role has changed.
“I’m basically one of the leaders on the team now. I’m still learning myself,” said Brooks, whose role — whether she’s a starter or a reserve — isn’t clear to her. “I don’t know. That’s for CB to determine. Whenever I touch the court, I’m gonna impact the game as I do and give it my all.”
Brooks said she plans to bring the same approach to the floor no matter when she checks in, and she tied it to the team’s chemistry.
“We come in with one goal, and that’s to get 1% better every single day,” Brooks said.
After Brooks’ steady improvement last season, watching where her game takes her this season should be fun for Tar Heels fans.
| Year | No. | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 11 | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 52 | 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 | |
| Senior | 21 | Ciera Toomey | F | 6–4 | |
| Senior | 4 | Laila Hull | W | 6–1 | |
| Senior | 5 | Sophie Burrows — X | G | 6–2 | |
| Senior | 8 | Achol Akot — Y | F | 6–1 | |
| Senior | 10 | Reniya Kelly | G | 5–7 | |
| Senior | 15 | Sydney Barker | G | 5–6 | |
| Senior | 13 | Chloe Clardy — Z | G | 5–9 |
W — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; Z — Stanford transfer
Former players transferred
| 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 |
UNC schedule
| Date | Day/ month | Time, TV | Opponent/event (rank in final poll) |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | ||
| 18 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | vs. Davidson |
| 24 | Saturday | 1 p.m., Big Ten Network+ | at No. 20 Maryland |
| November | Regular season | ||
| 2 | Monday | 2:30 ET | Oui-Play in Paris vs. No. 12 Oklahoma |
| 8 | Sunday | 5:30, ESPN | Ally Tipoff in Charlotte vs. No. 2 South Carolina |
| 11 | Wednesday | TBA | vs. N.C. Central |
| 14 | Saturday | 4 p.m., ESPN+ | at Penn in Palestra |
| WBCA Showcase | Orlando | ||
| 19 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | vs. Texas Tech |
| 21 | Saturday | 5 p.m. | vs. No. 24 Alabama |
| ——— | |||
| 24 | Tuesday | TBA | vs. Gardner-Webb |
| 27 | Friday | TBA | vs. Army |
| 29 | Sunday | TBA | vs. Brown |
| December | |||
| 2 | Wednesday | 7:15, ESPN2 | ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge vs. No. 8 LSU |
| 6 | Sunday | TBA | vs. Elon |
| 9 | Wednesday | 11 a.m. | vs. Winthrop |
| 13 | Sunday | TBA | vs. N.C. State |
| 17 | Thursday | TBA | vs. Georgia Tech |
| 21 | Monday | TBA | vs. Norfolk State |
| 28 | Monday | TBA | vs. UNCW |
| 31 | Thursday | TBA | at Syracuse |
| January | |||
| 3 | Sunday | TBA | at Clemson |
| 7 | Thursday | TBA | vs. Wake Forest |
| 10 | Sunday | TBA | at No. 11 Louisville |
| 17 | Sunday | TBA | vs. Boston College |
| 21 | Thursday | TBA | at California |
| 24 | Sunday | TBA | at Stanford |
| 28 | Thursday | TBA | vs. No. 9 Notre Dame |
| 31 | Sunday | TBA | vs. No. 5 Duke |
| February | |||
| 4 | Thursday | TBA | at Miami |
| 7 | Sunday | TBA | vs. Virginia Tech |
| 14 | Sunday | TBA | at SMU |
| 18 | Thursday | TBA | at Pittsburgh |
| 21 | Sunday | TBA | vs. Florida State |
| 25 | Thursday | TBA | vs. No. 19 Virginia |
| 28 | Sunday | TBA | at No. 5 Duke |
| March | |||
| 3–7 | Wed.-Sun. | ACC tournament | Spectrum Center, Charlotte |
Photo by Nell Redmond/theACC.com
