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Official Player Return/Departure Thread

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Carolina151

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Will update as they become official. As I said over the weekend, Brooks officially confirmed it and “want to graduate from UNC”

Returners:
-Nyla Brooks
-Ciera Toomey
-Blanca Thomas
-Laila Hull
-Jordan Zubich
-Taissa Queiroz
-Reniya Kelly
-Syd Barker

FR Additions:
-Noelle Bofia
-Kate Harpring

Transfers IN:
-Achol Akot: 6’2 F OK State: 12.4 PPG | 7.2 RPG | 63.3% FG
-Sophie Burrows: 6’2 G, Syracuse: 11.0 PPG | 5.7 RPG | 1.9 SPG | 1.8 3P
-Chloe Clardy: 5’9 G, Stanford: 31.8 MPG, 12.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.0 SPG
-Gabby White: 5’10 G, UVA: 15 mpg: 6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2 apg

Transfers OUT:
-Lanie Grant
-Taliyah Henderson
-Elina Aarnisalo
-Liza

 
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kjcooper

kjcooper

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No doubt she has some intangibles that will greatly improve over the coming years, glad that she's staying with the team. As someone mentioned earlier, she has all the attributes to become an All- American at Carolina.
 
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4theHeels19

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This really sucks. Loved her game and her character. Will be keeping tabs on her game; wish her the best of luck.
 
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Carolina151

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Going to shoot it real with you guys….

We have significantly increased our NIL funds and player retention stuff over the last 2 years (probably in the 10-20 range). But there’s 5-10 schools in the country that until we have major donors donate year after year— we (nor 98% of schools in the country) can’t touch. That’s the unfortunate reality with what we have right now. And even if ones comes along— you have to sustain it year after year.

That said, we are going to be fine portal rise and with roster contention next year. We are going to have a team that will host next year and a team that will be in the Top 20 again next year. But with what we have and are committing to the program it caps at an Elite 8 level if you get a good draw as a 3 seed or 2 seed. We do have enough to compete at the top of the ACC and earn a top 4 seed each year.

The portal isn’t even open yet, technically. That’s said, we do have players we have identified that have said they are entering the portal. We are going to get some good player (s) on campus and good commit (s) out of the portal.
 
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Carolina151

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With the departure news, my current #1 of people posting their intentions of entering the portal is Lena Girardi of OK ST. Hit 51 3s as a FR this year on 40% clip. 5’11 G. Strictly a shooter. We were in her Final 5 last year and she took an OV. If you look at our recent transfers….
-Elina: final 2 out of HS
-Maria: Final 2 out of HS and opponent
-Nyla: Final 5 out of HS
 
3397char

3397char

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1stGenerationHeel said:
Any chance we can match for Grant?
Click to expand...
hate this news, wish she was staying.

UNc has matched or improved upon every undergrad player who has left in the portal era except Key.

Crisp to Harris & Aarnisalo
Key to Crisp
Paris to Townsend
Adams to Gakdeng
KTW to Donarski & Nivar

I view COVID grad students leaving as a bit different. The majority of grad students transfer for various reasons; it is arguably expected. We technically did not have replacements for Kelly, Z and Poole except through the freshman class.
 
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3397char

3397char

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Carolina151 said:
With the departure news, my current #1 of people posting their intentions of entering the portal is Lena Girardi of OK ST. Hit 51 3s as a FR this year on 40% clip. 5’11 G. Strictly a shooter. We were in her Final 5 last year and she took an OV. If you look at our recent transfers….
-Elina: final 2 out of HS
-Maria: Final 2 out of HS and opponent
-Nyla: Final 5 out of HS
Click to expand...
We were a finalist for Nivar as well IIRC.
 
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1stGenerationHeel

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Viking131 said:
Hate this.. Hate this.. Hate this!
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Yeah I’m not really a big fan of portal/nil. That being said, if we lose Grant the following must happen:

1. Bring a player in that is taller and can defend.
2. Ideally bring in a player that shoots close to if not better than Grant.

If Kelly comes back we have our 3 ball handlers with Kelly, Arnisalo and Harpring.

We need shooters and defense at the SG/CG spot.
 
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3397char

3397char

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www.threads.com

R.L. Bynum (@r.l.bynum) on Threads

Dynamic guard Lanie Grant committed to UNC at 14 and skipped her senior season in high school to come to Carolina early, but has decided to enter the transfer portal after two seasons in Chapel Hill. https://tarheeltribune.com/2026/04/01/unc-guard-lanie-grant-to-enter-the-transfer-portal/
www.threads.com www.threads.com
 
3397char

3397char

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1stGenerationHeel said:
Yeah I’m not really a big fan of portal/nil. That being said, if we lose Grant the following must happen:

1. Bring a player in that is taller and can defend.
2. Ideally bring in a player that shoots close to if not better than Grant.

If Kelly comes back we have our 3 ball handlers with Kelly, Arnisalo and Harpring.

We need shooters and defense at the SG/CG spot.
Click to expand...
She is the best shooter in the ACC so #2 is a pretty tall order…
 
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