Five-star UNC recruit Toomey leads team to state title 10 months after ACL surgery

A year after enduring the pain of tearing her right ACL and the anxiety of not knowing what would come next, Ciera Toomey led Dunmore High School to its first Pennsylvania Class 3A state title on Thursday night. There were doubts about whether the highest-ranked of Carolina’s talented four-player incoming freshman class would recover in time to play her senior season. She still is working her way back to being the player she was before the injury but it was remarkable that Toomey even played this season.

Perfect start gives way to frustration as Duke rallies past UNC, which ties season errors high

CHAPEL HILL — A game that started perfectly for Carolina pitching turned into a perfectly frustrating mix of missed opportunities, poor defense and not enough good relief pitching. A No. 15 UNC team that is usually solid on defense — although making some nice plays — tied a season-high with four errors. The slugging Tar Heels, who have 49 home runs in 23 games, failed to go deep for only the fourth time this season.

RJ Davis, ‘Tar Heel for life,’ returning for his senior season

RJ Davis, as expected, announced on social media on Friday morning that he is returning for his senior season at North Carolina. “Tar Heel for life,” he wrote on Twitter in announcing his decision.

Horvath, shutdown pitching in final 7 innings, power No. 15 UNC by Duke after early deficit

CHAPEL HILL — Carolina has such an explosive offense that the Tar Heels don’t have to worry much when they fall behind early. They again showed why Thursday, erasing an early three-run deficit before surging to a 6–3 win over Duke in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Boshamer Stadium for their sixth consecutive victory.

UNC starter Todd-Williams entering transfer portal, day after Adams decides to transfer

For the second consecutive day, a North Carolina women’s player entered the transfer portal, this time two-year starter Kennedy Todd-Williams. Todd Williams announced her decision Thursday in a social media post, leaving the Tar Heels with three returning starters in rising seniors Deja Kelly, Alyssa Ustby and Anya Poole.

UNC forward Destiny Adams enters transfer portal after two seasons

Forward Destiny Adams made big strides from her freshman to sophomore seasons at North Carolina, but announced on social media Wednesday night that she is entering the transfer portal.

Bacot says he’s returning for a fifth season at Carolina

Armando Bacot is coming back to Carolina for a fifth season. “The primary reason I am coming back is because I don’t want to leave North Carolina this way. But I also know I need to improve and feel like this is the best place to do that,” Bacot told Goodman after the Tar Heels finished 20–13 and missed the NCAA tournament. “I’m using my last year of eligibility.” Bacot said. “I felt it was the right decision for my future.”

Puff Johnson entering the transfer portal, the fourth player deciding to leave UNC’s program

After battling injuries during most of his three seasons at Carolina, Puff Johnson is entering the transfer portal, according to On3.com. He is the fourth UNC player to enter the portal, joining Justin McKoy, Tyler Nickel and Dontrez Styles.

Tar Heels in NBA: Sharpe scores more than a point a minute, ties career-high with 20, is +27; Anthony, Barnes, Kessler putting up consistent numbers

The Brooklyn Nets haven’t given Day’Ron Sharpe many chances to show what he can bring to the team in recent weeks. He took advantage of a chance Tuesday night. After playing only two of the previous nine games, Sharpe came off the bench to lead the Nets in scoring and was a game-high +27 in their 115–109 home loss Tuesday to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn’s fourth consecutive loss.

UNC’s talented junior class will be the core of national contender next season

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Courtney Banghart got the North Carolina job, her first recruiting calls were to the members of the talented junior class that have put the Tar Heels program back in the national spotlight. The core of that group — guard Deja Kelly, wing Kennedy Todd-Williams, forward Alyssa Ustby and center Anya Poole — fell short of its lofty goals with a heartbreaking 71–69 loss to Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Monday afternoon.