2025-26 Lineup

[bradarb08]

Read RL’s story (Read) that said Reniya will be playing off the ball more this year and that she’s excited to shoot more. So, it seems like Aarnisalo will be the starting 1 and Reniya the 2…

What do you think the lineup will be?

1. Elina Aarnisalo
2. Reniya Kelly
3. Indya Nivar
4. Nyla Harris
5. Cierra Toomey

I know that Blanca probably makes the most sense as the starting 5, but I feel like Toomey could take that last starting spot. I could be way wrong…

Then I assume that Laynie and Nyla Brooks will be first off the bench. We are deeeeeep with talent! Hope it translates on the floor.

What do you think?

 

[3397char]

Last season Thomas was well ahead of Toomey on defense and I think defense comes first at UNC, so I would bet she starts.

But I too hope/expect Toomey to see a huge jump, so I see a 3 player rotation at the 4 and 5 with plenty of minutes at both spots for Toomey unless the opposing 4 is super athletic.

But generally I think you nailed it, starters and first 3 off the bench looks right to me for the 8 that will see 15+ minutes a game.

 

[kystroup]

CB said that Thomas has missed a good amount of practice so I concur

 

[Jriv23]

I agree with numbers 1 through 4. The 5 spot will be interesting since Thomas has missed a good amount of practice time. I think matches and who we are playing will dictate some adjustments to the starting line up.

 

[HeelOne]

Are we sure Kelly is starting?

 

[23UNC]

I think the lineup will definitely fluctuate depending on our opponent. We are so flexible with lineups now. We can go big or small. I think game one will be:


1. Elina Aarnisalo
2. Reniya Kelly
3. Indya Nivar
4. Nyla Harris
5. Blanca Thomas

I could also see a small lineup with Harris at the 5 and Brooks at the 4.

 

[3397char]

Are we sure Kelly is starting?

I don't think we are sure of anything on this team, but Kelly and Harris seem like the most likely starters to me on the entire team. Kelly is:

• leading returning scorer, assists, minutes played
• one of 2 returning starters
• lead the team in 3pt % at 41%
• All-ACC 2nd team

 

[tarboy]

R Kelly 2nd team All ACC is very likely to start.

N Harris, I have to think she did not come to Chapel Hill to sit.

Until I see if we are going to go big with Harris and Blanca or Ciera or go smaller with Nyla Harris playing the 5 it is going to be hard to guess how the starters fit together.'

I would guess Indya Nivar has a leg up on returning as a starter and Lanie Grant as All ACC freshman team could take the DES Sophomore leap factors in.

That said Coach CB seems to love what Elina A brings to the team and word is Nyla Brooks has been very impressive in pre-season.

It could be IMO Big Line Up R Kelly, I Nivar, Nyla Brooks, Nyla Harris, Blanca/Ciera. OR smaller line up Elina A, R Kelly, I Nivar, Nyla Brooks, Nyla Harris.

Or one of the really talented other freshmen like T Henderson or Taissa Q could blow up in ;practice and be good enough to earn a starting spot.

Good problems to have IMO.

 

[duckofprey]

I think Reniya starts if she’s healthy but I didn’t get the impression that she’s ready to go from what CB said at ACC Media Day.

 

[Jriv23]

We will see soon. I will go ahead and say that EA will start at the point. Her vision, her ability as a floor general according CB will have her playing the point. According to CB her ability to see the floor, know when and where to get the ball is better than Littlefield which says a lot. Kelly will be at the two based on what she did last year. The only way that Kelly is not starting is she is hurt. Nivar is the best defender on the team. She will be task to guard the other team's best player just like LD did last year; therefore, she is going to start. Nyla Harris is going to start. She did not transfer in to be on the bench. She brings a lot to the 4 spot. Jeff W. did not utilize her skills last year. It was clearly evident when she put up big numbers her sophomore year and then last year her numbers dropped. This because those freshmen guards shot a lot and they would not give her and Cockerin. If Blanca is healthy she will be at the 5. Toomer could be a the 5 but we say last year she was not strong enough or she is not use to banging in the inside.

 

[3397char]

We will see soon. I will go ahead and say that EA will start at the point. Her vision, her ability as a floor general according CB will have her playing the point. According to CB her ability to see the floor, know when and where to get the ball is better than Littlefield which says a lot. Kelly will be at the two based on what she did last year. The only way that Kelly is not starting is she is hurt. Nivar is the best defender on the team. She will be task to guard the other team's best player just like LD did last year; therefore, she is going to start. Nyla Harris is going to start. She did not transfer in to be on the bench. She brings a lot to the 4 spot. Jeff W. did not utilize her skills last year. It was clearly evident when she put up big numbers her sophomore year and then last year her numbers dropped. This because those freshmen guards shot a lot and they would not give her and Cockerin. If Blanca is healthy she will be at the 5. Toomer could be a the 5 but we say last year she was not strong enough or she is not use to banging in the inside.

Excellent analysis. Do you still think Brooks will start day 1?

 

[kystroup]

I think Reniya starts if she’s healthy but I didn’t get the impression that she’s ready to go from what CB said at ACC Media Day.

must have missed that, what’d she say?

 

[Carolina151]

I certainly hope with the scrimmage vs Tennessee and exh where we can see publically we get a better feel. Blanca has missed a lot of time- I wouldn't expect her to "start" immediately. I would expect with 3+ weeks of practice to get conditioning back paired with Tennessee/SC in the preseason and Week 1 to ease into NCCU and Elon we are ready to go via game speed for a big game vs UCLA where she will be much needed in trying to contain and body-up Betts.

Like Riv just mentioned, we are a defensive built program. Nivar is starting. I could see a legit 12/7/4 type season from her if we are as active and long on defense as I expect us to be

We *finally* have the depth an length we have been looking for. It is a great place to be in if we can all stay healthy. Just take a moment and look at these heights:
-Kelly 5'7
-Grant 5'9
-Elina 5'10
-Nivar 5'10 - ridiculous leaping ability and plays much bigger
-Henderson 6'1
-Brooks 6'1
-Hull 6'1
-Taissa 6'1
-Astakhova 6'2 (looks even taller than that, take a look at the team roster and the team photo in the link at the bottom)
-Harris 6'2
-Toomey 6'4
-Thomas 6'5

We could legit have Elina at 5'10 and 4 people 6'1 with length on the court together. Those days of struggling to rebound against elite teams could be over.

My x-factors this year are Taissa and Liza A; professional experience; we don't know a ton about. Henderson- out with ACL last year, not a lot of film the last year plus, has maintained elite track speed, Top 25 recruit. If they're contributors.....

 

[kystroup]

Interested to know what’s going on with Fleary

 

[bradarb08]

I certainly hope with the scrimmage vs Tennessee and exh where we can see publically we get a better feel. Blanca has missed a lot of time- I wouldn't expect her to "start" immediately. I would expect with 3+ weeks of practice to get conditioning back paired with Tennessee/SC in the preseason and Week 1 to ease into NCCU and Elon we are ready to go via game speed for a big game vs UCLA where she will be much needed in trying to contain and body-up Betts.

Like Riv just mentioned, we are a defensive built program. Nivar is starting. I could see a legit 12/7/4 type season from her if we are as active and long on defense as I expect us to be

We *finally* have the depth an length we have been looking for. It is a great place to be in if we can all stay healthy. Just take a moment and look at these heights:
-Kelly 5'7
-Grant 5'9
-Elina 5'10
-Nivar 5'10 - ridiculous leaping ability and plays much bigger
-Henderson 6'1
-Brooks 6'1
-Hull 6'1
-Taissa 6'1
-Astakhova 6'2 (looks even taller than that, take a look at the team roster and the team photo in the link at the bottom)
-Harris 6'2
-Toomey 6'4
-Thomas 6'5

We could legit have Elina at 5'10 and 4 people 6'1 with length on the court together. Those days of struggling to rebound against elite teams could be over.

My x-factors this year are Taissa and Liza A; professional experience; we don't know a ton about. Henderson- out with ACL last year, not a lot of film the last year plus, has maintained elite track speed, Top 25 recruit. If they're contributors.....

Banghart said that Astakhova can get both hands on the rim.

 

[Mtns2Sea]

N Harris, I have to think she did not come to Chapel Hill to sit.

And CB certainly seemed thrilled that she showed up in the transfer portal based on her comments at the ACC Media Day.

 

[Mtns2Sea]

Sounds like Blanca has missed quite a bit of time but I am not sure why - I must have missed that.

 

[3397char]

I missed that as well. My guess is nothing severe like an ACL or a fracture because she and her teammates have steadily posted on social media with no breaks that would allow for casts, braces or crutches.

 

[6string]

Of all the players on the team that I felt like needed the pre season the most it would have been Blanca. Such potential, I am not even sure she realizes it yet. My wife says we need Hansbrough to come in and instill that “mean” streak in her!

 

[Jriv23]

3397char thanks for that question. I do recall saying that I thought NB would start. That is a good question. The question I have now is, Who spot will she take? If Thomas is hurt and cannot go the first game than she could start if CB decides to have NH at the 5 and put NB at the 4. I will say this, if NB does not start she will be the first one of the bench along with LG. I think matches will dictate too. For instance, if teams start to take RK down in the block on the defensive end, then NB will have to start to negate that from happening. The men's team last year run into the problem. The opposing team did that again RJ Davis last season. Who ever RJ Davis was guarding on the defensive end, that guard would post in down in the blocks and there was nothing he could do to stop them from scoring. He was just too small. I could see teams trying to do RK the same way with two small guards starting. EA is 5'10" but RK is 5'7" at best. She might be a little shorter than that.​

 

[3397char]

ESPNW just listed Nyla Brooks as their #6 impact freshman so the see pretty much the same thing you saw dating all the way back to when she committed. You were super high on Brooks way back then and ESPN's Shane Laflin now agrees with you

 

[Jriv23]

bradarb08, CB stated the other day that Henderson is the most athletic athlete she has ever coached. She said she was faster than Utsby. She also said and NH said that Henderson is a very good shooter. CB stated that she is an excellent rebounder on both ends of the court. The last thing that CB said about Henderson is that she is just scratching the surface because she started playing BB a little later. Henderson was a track star growing up. She is very fast and has gotten medals and stuff. Henderson stated that she came to UNC for a track meet. I think she ran AAU track. RK at the ACC tip off said that Henderson is going to be the sleeper. If you got 2 players on the team raving about her and the HC is raving about her then she must be legit. RK also stated that Henderson goes hard in practice all the time. She does not take a play off. Based on these comments, Henderson is going to play a lot. How many minutes IDK.​

 

[tarboy]

I am sticking with my prediction that Nyla Brooks will be our best player this year start or not/

I think the small lineup with Harris at the 5 and Brooks at the 4 is very likely with BT slowed.

It is a lot about match ups but it is also about the 5 that play together the best.

BTW, I have not seen any other player make 10 3's in a row from the corner like NB.

 

[Jriv23]

Stephanie Watts did it in a game when she played at UNC. I agree with you tarboy. I think NB will be our best player too. I think once she has adjusted to the college game which is going to take a few games or a couple of months, she will be in the starting line-up. If Thomas is not ready for the first game than NB might be starting sooner than later IMO.

 

[Carolina151]

I am sticking with my prediction that Nyla Brooks will be our best player this year start or not/

I think the small lineup with Harris at the 5 and Brooks at the 4 is very likely with BT slowed.

It is a lot about match ups but it is also about the 5 that play together the best.

BTW, I have not seen any other player make 10 3's in a row from the corner like NB.

Just like Toby was Dook's best offensive player last year and did not start and barely avg 20mpg

 

[Jriv23]

Good point Carolina151.

 

[3397char]

Just like Toby was Dook's best offensive player last year

*Not when matched up with Ustby

 

[Jriv23]

You left out Maria. Maria was matched up with her at UNC. I think Ustby was still recovery from her surgery. Ustby guarded her at Duke.

 

[3397char]

You left out Maria. Maria was matched up with her at UNC. I think Ustby was still recovery from her surgery. Ustby guarded her at Duke.

Fournier's box score against UNC each game last season:

• @ UNC (mainly versus Ustby): 0-8 FGs for 2 pts, 6 Reb (3 Off Reb), 3 TO's in 19 min, Her shots were blocked multiple times, (Ustby had a really productive but very inefficient game with the infamous triple-double that included turnovers). UNC won.
• @ dook (Ustby was out injured): 6-11 for 19 points, 10 RBs (6 Off Reb), 1 TO in 23 min. dook won.
• @NCAAT (Ustby was back): 0-2 FGs for 3 pts, 7 RBs (0 Off Reb), 3 TO in 18 min. dook won as UNC was hapless on offense.

So I left out Gakdeng/Nivar/Toomey from game 2 on purpose. In the two games Fournier played against Ustby she failed to score a basket. In the other she logged a double/double as a reserve and had the highest scoring and rebounding rate of anyone on either team.

Fournier had only 4 non-productive games last season (3 points or less). These games were against UofSC (no shame there and she rebounded with a great game the 2nd time she played them ), KState (a top defensive team and she probably drew the assignment of A-A Ayoka Lee), and twice vs Alyssa Ustby.

 

[tarboy]

Real good stats 3397. AU shut Toby down big time. We should have won the NCAAT game.

 

[uman1]

bradarb08, CB stated the other day that Henderson is the most athletic athlete she has ever coached. She said she was faster than Utsby. She also said and NH said that Henderson is a very good shooter. CB stated that she is an excellent rebounder on both ends of the court. The last thing that CB said about Henderson is that she is just scratching the surface because she started playing BB a little later. Henderson was a track star growing up. She is very fast and has gotten medals and stuff. Henderson stated that she came to UNC for a track meet. I think she ran AAU track. RK at the ACC tip off said that Henderson is going to be the sleeper. If you got 2 players on the team raving about her and the HC is raving about her then she must be legit. RK also stated that Henderson goes hard in practice all the time. She does not take a play off. Based on these comments, Henderson is going to play a lot. How many minutes IDK.​

Shows you what I know. I watched a few of her HS games from last season and other than her straight-line athleticism I was not overly impressed.

 

[Jriv23]

In case you was wondering. CB said this in one of her podcast so I am getting this information from CB herself. Also, when they interviewed NH she said the same thing. That she can really shoot the ball. RK and IN stated this as well at the ACC tipoff. RK even said that she goes all out at practice and that was one of these things she love about Henderson. They both stated how she rebounds the ball on both ends of the court as well as being very fast and how she can shoot it. These people should know because CB is the head coach and I do not think she would tell a lie, and the other three players are practicing with her everyday and again I do not think they would lie, therefore, it is not a matter of what little you know it is a matter of believing CB and her teammates. As I said they know more because they are seeing it in practice everyday. The question is do you believe the upperclassman, NH, IN, RK these are veteran players saying this and not freshmen. They should know by now. CB should know because she recruited her and she is the HC. My question to you is: Do you believe them? forget the film that you saw. That film was probably her freshman or sophomore year. She torn her ACL between her junior and senior year. CB also said she would have been a McDonald's AA if she did not get hurt during that time. You have to remember she did not drop that much in the ranking although she was not able to play her senior year. That should also tell you that Henderson has to be legit because she was ranked number 27 by ESPN in the nation. She was the Gatorade player and number 1 player coming out of AZ.

 

[uman1]

In case you was wondering. CB said this in one of her podcast so I am getting this information from CB herself. Also, when they interviewed NH she said the same thing. That she can really shoot the ball. RK and IN stated this as well at the ACC tipoff. RK even said that she goes all out at practice and that was one of these things she love about Henderson. They both stated how she rebounds the ball on both ends of the court as well as being very fast and how she can shoot it. These people should know because CB is the head coach and I do not think she would tell a lie, and the other three players are practicing with her everyday and again I do not think they would lie, therefore, it is not a matter of what little you know it is a matter of believing CB and her teammates. As I said they know more because they are seeing it in practice everyday. The question is do you believe the upperclassman, NH, IN, RK these are veteran players saying this and not freshmen. They should know by now. CB should know because she recruited her and she is the HC. My question to you is: Do you believe them? forget the film that you saw. That film was probably her freshman or sophomore year. She torn her ACL between her junior and senior year. CB also said she would have been a McDonald's AA if she did not get hurt during that time. You have to remember she did not drop that much in the ranking although she was not able to play her senior year. That should also tell you that Henderson has to be legit because she was ranked number 27 by ESPN in the nation. She was the Gatorade player and number 1 player coming out of AZ.

I have definitely read all of that and I do defer to their observations. Usually when we sign someone I will go back and watch their high school games if they are available. Several of her games were available and honestly, I did not see those skills displayed for whatever the reason. I am more than happy to hear those games may not have displayed her true talents.