University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Welcomes Five For Class Of 2016
November 9, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2011
CHAPEL HILL --- The University of North Carolina women's basketball program signed five high school seniors to National Letters of Intent, head coach Sylvia Hatchell announced Wednesday.
The five members of the class of 2016 are Antoinette Bannister of Jacksonville, Fla., N'Dea Bryant of Goose Creek, S.C., Hillary Fuller of Jacksonville, Fla., Xylina McDaniel of, Columbia, S.C., and Hillary Summers of Fayetteville, N.C.
"We are very excited about signing these five young ladies and welcoming them to the Carolina basketball family," Hatchell said. "They are all tremendous young ladies who are great students as well as great competitors. They will represent our program and our University in a first class manner."
Bannister, who attends The Potter's House Christian Academy, is a 5-10 guard. A second-team USA Today All-America selection, Bannister averaged 27.2 points, 7.5 steals, 7.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists as junior.
"Antoinette is a strong combo guard that plays with a high basketball IQ with limitless range," Hatchell said. "She shoots the deep three, can handle the ball well with both hands and is a tenacious defender with the heart of a lion."
Bannister is a two-time National Christian Schools Athletic Association Large School Division 1 Player of the Year and has earned first-team National Association of Christian Athletes All-America honors each of the last three seasons. She is rated the No. 26 player overall by the All-Star Girls Report. Bannister is the daughter of Tony and Lurise Bannister.
Bryant, who attends Goose Creek High School, is a 6-0 wing. A two-time High School Sports Report All-State selection, Bryant has led her team to a combined record of 81-6 over the last three seasons, including the school's first state championship in 2010.
"N'Dea is the long, lean, athletic traditional Carolina guard that is very aggressive, shoots the three and definitely creates a matchup nightmare defensively," Hatchell said. "She is a trio guard that can play the 1, 2 or 3 spots. She definitely fits our Carolina fast breaking style of play."
A three-time all-region and all-county selection, Bryant is rated the No. 9 overall wing player by ESPN HoopGurlz. She averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds as a junior and led her team to a second straight state championship game appearance. Bryant is the daughter of Keith and Kessa Bryant.
Fuller, who also attends The Potter's House Christian Academy, is a 6-1 forward. A 2011 first-team NACA All-America selection, Fuller averaged 13.5 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots to go with 7.5 points per game as a junior.
"Hillary is a strong defender who runs the floor extremely well," Hatchell said. She has great athleticism and is a force defensively that can guard both the perimeter and the post. Offensively, she welcomes contact and finishes well around the basket."
Ranked the No. 17 forward in the class by ESPN HoopGurlz, Fuller teamed with fellow signee Bannister and current Tar Heel freshman Brittany Rountree to make The Potter's House one of the nation's top private school teams, winning NCSAA and NACA national championships. Fuller is the daughter of Shelton Fuller.
McDaniel, who attends Spring Valley High School, is a 6-2 forward. The 2010-11 South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year, McDaniel is a three-time 4A all-state selection who has averaged over 18 points and eight rebounds per game.
"Xylina is a true competitor who plays hard from start to finish," Hatchell said. "We see her as a versatile player, not just a true power forward, that will help us take it to another level on both ends of the floor. When it comes to rebounding, I am going to call her `Windex' because she will clean the boards."
Rated the No. 6 forward and the No. 25 player overall by ESPN HoopGurlz, McDaniel helped lead Spring Valley to 4A state championships in 2009 and 2011. In addition to being one of South Carolina's top five players each of the last three seasons on the hardcourt, McDaniel also broke the state record in the shot put as a track and field athlete. McDaniel is the daughter of former NBA All-Star Xavier McDaniel and Michele Day Anderson.
Summers, who attends Village Christian Academy, is a 6-3 post player. An Associated Press All-State selection as a junior, Summers owns a plethora of school records at VCA, including career points, career rebounds and career blocked shots.
"Hillary is one of the most decorated players in the Cape Fear region," Hatchell said. "She is a great rebounder, can score and has a world of potential."
Summers is a two-time Cape Fear Independent Conference Player of the Year, leading the CFIC in scoring, blocks and steals after averaging 22.2 points per game as a junior. She helped lead VCA to three straight NCISAA state championship tournament appearances and earned NCISAA All-State honors as both a sophomore and a junior. Summers is the daughter of Garland and Mamie Summers.
