Does UNC have any Star Players?

[3397char]

I was thinking today: who on UNC would I vote for first team All-ACC? I could make an argument for a couple, bit there is no one I would feel was robbed if they did not make the team.

Keep in mind there are a ridiculous 15 first team members; that is almost one per conference team. Who on UNC is a top 15 ACC player?

The offensive stats just are not there:

• No one at UNC is in the top 25 in points per game. Harris is our top scorer at 11.7 PPG which is roughly 27th in the league (the ACC stats only go down to top 25)
• Our top rebounder is Toomey: 15th at 6.7 RPG (Harris is 16th, also at 6.7) Toomey only averages 9.8 PPG. 5th in blocks with 1.5 per game
• Nivar is 9th in assists at 4.0 per game but 13th in assist/TO ratio, 2nd in the conference in steals at 2.7, 10.5 PPG.
• Grant is likely top 5 in the conference in 3pt FG% at 42% but does not take anywhere near enough to qualify for that stat in the ACC. (she averages 2 makes a game, needs 2.5 makes a game to make the stat) 10.0 PPG
• Kelly, our only returning 2nd teamer from last year, has been inconsistent and does not play full minutes very often due to knee issues. She contributes 6.1 PPG & 2.1 APG in 25.2 MPG. So she is 7th on the team in scoring and 4th in assists.

I expect Nivar to make the all defensive team. I think Nivar and Harris will definitely make 2nd team ( #16-25 vote getters), with Grant and Toomey having an outside shot.

Who would you argue should be on the first team?

Extrapolating from that, does UNC have a go-to player? Someone you want the ball in their hands? Someone they cannot live without?

 

[Jriv23]

If I had to guess, I think NH and IN would be the ones for first or second team ACC. It is going to come down on how we finish in the conference. If we are in the top 4, then one of them may make it. If not, then I would guess 2nd team. LG could make 2nd team or 3rd team if she continues to play like she is playing.

 

[tarboy]

I think Nivar, Harris and Grant will land on some team but not first team All ACC. I think
Nyla Brooks could make the all rookie team.

As for stars. I think Brooks, Henderson, Harpring and Grant can all be stars in my opinion and
Toomey can develop a little over the summer she can..

 

[Jriv23]

Harpring is still in high school at the moment. Did you mean IN.

 

[3397char]

The ACC has no 3rd team or honorable mention. Best way to think about it us that the current first team is basically 1st, 2nd and 3rd team combined and the current 2nd team is what used to be honorable mention.

I get expanding the first team with now 18 members, but 15 players on the first team is crazy

 

[tarboy]

I would say we do not have a go to player this year. Lanie for FT's and 3PT shots. Harris to score inside and
Kelly when she is right. We do have balance. Nyla Brooks will be the go to player next year along with
Kate Harpring with Lanie Grant spotting up for the 3.

 

[3397char]

I think Nivar, Harris and Grant will land on some team but not first team All ACC. I think
Nyla Brooks could make the all rookie team.

As for stars. I think Brooks, Henderson, Harpring and Grant can all be stars in my opinion and
Toomey can develop a little over the summer she can..

Agree that Brooks is a potential 4th or 5th spot on the rookie team.

Izoje should be ROY, and Somfai has a spot locked up as well. Roberson and Brown are ahead of Brooks in scoring, rebounding and FG% (though both play more of a forward role) But if Brooks can stay on her current upward trend she will become a lock.

2025-26 ACC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week
Nov. 10 – Lara Somfai, F, Stanford
Nov. 17 – Puff Morris, G, California
Nov. 24 – Nyla Brooks, G, North Carolina
Dec. 1 – Uche Izoje, C, Syracuse
Dec. 8 – Uche Izoje, C, Syracuse
Dec. 15 – Lara Somfai, F, Stanford
Dec. 22 – Uche Izoje, C, Syracuse
Dec. 29 – Lara Somfai, F, Stanford
Jan. 5 – Uche Izoje, C, Syracuse
Jan. 12 – Arianna Roberson, C, Duke
Jan. 19 – Uche Izoje, C, Syracuse
Jan. 26 – Uche Izoje, C, Syracuse
Feb. 2 – Milan Brown, G, Wake Forest
Feb. 9 – Lara Somfai, F, Stanford


Agree that in general UNC is a very young team with a bunch of players with a potential for growth.

 

[Viking131]

Regardless of the opponent, them Ladies shooting that Ball!

 

[akillesheel17]

Harris stacks up a little better if you only look at stats in conference play - and I think voters tend to weight ACC stats more heavily than overall stats. 13.2 PPG ties for 25th, 7.6 RPG ranks 12th (she's also 4th in ORPG), 57.6% FG% ranks 3rd, and surprisingly 1.6 steals/game ranks 19th. IMO that adds up to a top-15 player in the conference but I'm sure there are others with similar arguments so it wouldn't be the biggest snub if she were left off first-team.

Nivar won't get DPOY but has a solid case, with her steal numbers (2nd in the ACC for full season, T10th in ACC play) and the fact that she leads the conference in DRtg. She should, as you said, make 2nd team.

Toomey should be in the conversation for MIP. She won't win it because the counting stats aren't quite there besides the blocks, but I doubt the winner will actually have improved as much as her.

 

[23UNC]

Nivar and Harris have a shot. My bet is Nivar is the only one. Nivar should also be all-def and Brooks should be all rookie.

 

[kjcooper]

The only player which we have that will be on the All ACC team will be Nivar, and it will probably be second team. N. Brooks has a shot at the All ACC rookie team, even though her shots were not falling against SMU, she did collect 9 rebounds. One thing which could change going forward is how the team finish the season, the game against Duke upcoming will be an important game. Not saying it's a must win type game but it could be a boost for them in the standings, with a top four finish.
Really like a lot about this team, with the young players improving, this could be a Top ten team next season, if everyone returns. Balancing scoring, and not depending on one or two players to carry the load, which was the case earlier. Breakout year forthcoming for these soon to be sophomores.

 

[tarboy]

Even better than individual honors would be to beat the dookies and pave the way to hosting
in the NCAA's.

I have Grant and Nivar as possible 2nd team All ACC. Nyla Brooks on the All ACC Rookie team.
Indya Nivar on the all defense team. JMO.

 

[Jriv23]

You left out Nyla Harris. Her numbers have increased like Grants since ACC play has begun. Her numbers were slightly higher than Grants in the ACC. That is what flash across the screen during the SMU game.

 

[DSPHeel]

I was thinking today: who on UNC would I vote for first team All-ACC? I could make an argument for a couple, bit there is no one I would feel was robbed if they did not make the team.

Keep in mind there are a ridiculous 15 first team members; that is almost one per conference team. Who on UNC is a top 15 ACC player?

The offensive stats just are not there:

• No one at UNC is in the top 25 in points per game. Harris is our top scorer at 11.7 PPG which is roughly 27th in the league (the ACC stats only go down to top 25)
• Our top rebounder is Toomey: 15th at 6.7 RPG (Harris is 16th, also at 6.7) Toomey only averages 9.8 PPG. 5th in blocks with 1.5 per game
• Nivar is 9th in assists at 4.0 per game but 13th in assist/TO ratio, 2nd in the conference in steals at 2.7, 10.5 PPG.
• Grant is likely top 5 in the conference in 3pt FG% at 42% but does not take anywhere near enough to qualify for that stat in the ACC. (she averages 2 makes a game, needs 2.5 makes a game to make the stat) 10.0 PPG
• Kelly, our only returning 2nd teamer from last year, has been inconsistent and does not play full minutes very often due to knee issues. She contributes 6.1 PPG & 2.1 APG in 25.2 MPG. So she is 7th on the team in scoring and 4th in assists.

I expect Nivar to make the all defensive team. I think Nivar and Harris will definitely make 2nd team ( #16-25 vote getters), with Grant and Toomey having an outside shot.

Who would you argue should be on the first team?

Extrapolating from that, does UNC have a go-to player? Someone you want the ball in their hands? Someone they cannot live without?

Nivar has an outside chance at 1st team, if voters consider the intangibles she brings. No one else is even close.

 

[uman1]

We should finish near the top of the conference standings so by default we should have at least one player on the team. Perhaps a toss-up between Nivar and Harris. I am guessing Nivar given her combo of scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals. She has also improved her 3-pt shooting to a fairly decent 34%.

 

[unc80]

I did not realize there are 15 first team All-ACC players. Found out there are also 10 2nd team players. When did they start that goofy weirdness? Diminishes the accomplishment IMO. Participation trophies next for Women's basketball?

 

[3397char]

I did not realize there are 15 first team All-ACC players. Found out there are also 10 2nd team players. When did they start that goofy weirdness? Diminishes the accomplishment IMO. Participation trophies next for Women's basketball?

Started when we went to 18 Teams. I agree it is too much. It seems so much more logical to have:

10 first team, 10 second team, 10 honorable mention ( or 3rd team)