University of North Carolina Athletics
Four Standouts Sign With UNC
November 10, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Four outstanding high school players have signed letters of intent to play for the North Carolina women's basketball team, UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell announced Wednesday. Heather Claytor, Christina DeWitt, Rashanda McCants and Iman McFarland will join the Tar Heel squad in the fall of 2005.
"I'm so excited to welcome these four players into our program," Hatchell said. "They'll be outstanding additions to our team, on an off the court. They're all very talented, they're strong students and they fit in really well with our players. We can't wait to have them join our team."
Claytor, a 5-9 guard from Verona, Va., has earned all-state, all-region and all-district honors at Fort Defiance High School. She holds school single game-records for scoring (38 points) and three-pointers (seven) and helped her team to a district title and state runner-up spot last season, averaging 18.8 points per game. She is also an all-district performer in softball and volleyball and a member of the National Honor Society. Claytor is the daughter of Edward and Patricia Claytor.
DeWitt, a 6-3 forward from Little River, S.C, has twice been named region player of the year and first-team all-state at North Myrtle Beach High School. She averaged 26.5 points, 18.9 rebounds and 8.5 blocks last season as her team won the region title. Honored as one of the top five players in South Carolina, DeWitt is also an all-state volleyball player. She is the daughter of Debbie and Raymond DeWitt.
McCants, a 6-3 forward from Asheville, N.C., earned Class 3A Miss Basketball and first-team all-state honors as a junior after averaging 23 points and 11.2 rebounds to lead Asheville High to its second consecutive state championship. She is a two-time region MVP, a High School Heisman nominee and an honor roll student. McCants participated in USA Basketball Junior National Team Trials last summer after playing in the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival. Also a track and field competitor, she is the daughter of Brenda Muckelvene and James McCants. Her older brother, Rashad, is a junior on the UNC men's team.
McFarland, a 6-2 forward from Temple Hills, Md., plays for Bishop McNamara High School, which was ranked No. 1 nationally for much of the 2003-04 season. McFarland has earned all-county and all-conference honors and was her team's second-leading scorer last season with 12.8 points per game. She participated in the 2004 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival and is a Maryland state finalist for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award, as well as a member of the National Honor Society. She also competes in track and field. McFarland is the daughter of Ray and Leslie McFarland.
UNC has four seniors on the 2004-05 roster. Forward/guard Nikita Bell, forward Kenya McBee and guard Leah Metcalf are fourth-year players, while guard Jennifer Nelms is in her second year on the team.
The Tar Heels open the season on Nov. 19 against Elon at Carmichael Auditorium. Prior to that, they play one final exhibition game, hosting Athletes in Action on Nov. 16.
UNC will take on defending NCAA Champion Connecticut on Nov. 21 at the Jimmy V Classic at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Tickets are available by calling the Carolina ticket office at (919) 962-2296 or (800) 722-HEEL.
Players Mentioned
