University of North Carolina Athletics
Unc Women's Basketball Signs Four
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
December 10, 1998
The North Carolina women's basketball program signed four players: Coretta Brown, Courtney Chambers, Cherie Lea and Jennifer Thomas to scholarships during the early signing period. The four will join the program in the fall of 1999, helping to replace the five players who are seniors this season.
"Coretta, Courtney, Cherie and Jennifer display great talent on the court, but are also serious students and outstanding individuals," coach Sylvia Hatchell says. "We look forward to welcoming them into our program."
Brown is a 5-8 point guard from Statesboro, Ga., and has been her team's MVP each year at Southeast Bulloch High. Brown was last year's Coastal Empire Female Player of the Year and Region 2AA Player of the Year. She also competes in the high jump and was recently elected her school's homecoming queen. Brown says she chose Carolina in part because of the team's offensive style of play. Additionally, she says, "The coaching staff and players made me feel at home."
Chambers is a 5-9 guard from Asheville, N.C. A first-team All-Region pick at T.C. Roberson High, she has earned All-Conference honors the past three seasons. She also competes in volleyball and was a member of the state champion 800 meter relay team in 1996. Chambers will compete for the Tar Heels on the same floor where here father, Bill, played for Carolina from 1970-72, during the era when the men's team called Carmichael Auditorium home. "North Carolina has a long-standing tradition of strong basketball and excellent academics," she says. "It is an honor to have an opportunity to be part of that."
Lea is a 5-9 guard from Blanch, N.C. At Bartlett Yancey Senior High, she has earned All-Region and All-Conference honors the past two seasons and been named her team's Most Valuable Player as a freshman, sophomore and junior. She was named the 1998 3A Regional Scholar Athlete of the Year and competed on the state's Junior Olympics team last summer. She is vice president of her senior class and also is listed in Who's Who among American High School Students. "I chose Carolina because it has a good academic program and athletic program, too," Lea says. "I have always wanted to go to Carolina."
Thomas is a 6-0 forward from Detroit Country Day School, where her team is ranked No. 1 in the state of Michigan and has won two state titles. Singled out as the top player in the state by the Detroit News, she is a favorite for Michigan's Miss Basketball award. Thomas has been named sixth-team All-America by Street and Smith's and is also an AAU All-America. She also competes in track and field and is an honor roll student, as well as president of the Contemporary Issues Club. "I chose to attend UNC because of its excellent tradition in academics and athletics," she says.
