University of North Carolina Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces Signing Class
November 8, 2017 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL - The North Carolina women's basketball team is proud to announce the signing of two outstanding student-athletes on the first day of the national signing period, released Wednesday by Naismith Hall of Fame head coach Sylvia Hatchell.
The two members of the class are Shayla Bennett of Piedmont, South Carolina, and Jhileiya Dunlap of Columbia, South Carolina. All-Star Girls Report have Bennett and Dunlap the No. 1 and No. 3 ranked junior college players, respectively, in the nation.
Bennett and Dunlap will have two years of eligibility remaining with Carolina after playing two seasons at Gulf State College in Panama City, Florida. Gulf State College is the No.1 ranked junior college team in the nation, and won its second-straight national championship last spring with Bennett and Dunlap serving as key contributors as freshmen.
Shayla Bennett
5-9 • Guard
Piedmont, S.C. • Christ Church School
Gulf Coast State College
Currently playing her second season at Gulf Coast State College, the No. 1 ranked junior college team in the nation and the two-time defending national champions • Received 2017 WBCA Junior/Community College Coaches' All-America honorable mention honors • Scored a team-high 21 points in the 2017 national title game • Averaged 15.6 points and shot 39 percent from the three-point line as a freshman in 2016-17 • Four-star rated guard by ESPN out of Christ Church School • Led Christ Church to back-to-back Class A state championships as a junior and senior • Named the 2015 South Carolina Class A Girl's Player of the Year • Greenville County Player of the Year in 2015 & '16 • 2015 Region 2A Player of the Year • 2016 The Greenville News All-Upstate Player of the Year • Averaged 20.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.7 steals per game as a junior • Competed with Carolina Hoopzsters for six years with Coach Willis Holliday • Daughter of John and Michelle Bennett • Brother, Carrio Bennett, played at South Carolina State.
Shayla Bennett on choosing Carolina: "Why Carolina? Why not Carolina? It's a place of loving people and people that will fight with you through anything. It's a great environment with a great coaching staff. I followed Coach Hatchell during her sickness a couple of years ago and to see how dedicated she was to her team even though she was in the hospital, won me over. She fought hard and I know she's going to push me hard. It just feels like home."
Hatchell on Bennett: "Shayla Bennett is an outstanding combo guard that can flat out score. She has a great understanding of the game, and will be a good floor general for us next season. She will bring a variety of skills and excitement to Carmichael Arena. We look forward to watching her develop as a Tar Heel in Carolina Blue."
Jhileiya Dunlap
6-2 • Forward
Columbia, S.C. • Dreher HS
Gulf Coast State College
Currently playing her second season at Gulf Coast State College, the No. 1 ranked junior college team in the nation and the two-time defending national champions • Had 18 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and three assists in the 2017 national title game • Named to the 2017 NJCAA All-Tournament Team • Named 2016 Gatorade South Carolina Girls Basketball Player of the Year • Averaged 20.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 3.6 steals and 3.1 blocks for the 2016 state championship winning team • 2016 Class AAA Player of the Year • Led Dreher to state championships in 2012, '14 and '16 • Four-time all-state and all-region selection • Competed with South Carolina 76ers for eight years • Daughter of Kesha Thomas.
Jhileiya Dunlap on choosing Carolina: "Carolina feels like home to me. I've been interested in UNC since I started watching women's college basketball at the age of 10. I admire the coaching staff and how Coach Hatchell is able to motivate her players to get the most out of them. UNC will help me grow academically and strengthen me as a player. I enjoy the diversity and the interactions between all the college students on campus. I'm excited to represent the Tar Heel Blue!"
Hatchell on Dunlap: "Jhileiya Dunlap is a skilled athlete that fits well into our system at the University of North Carolina. She is long, quick, and explosive! She can shoot the outside shot but is a tremendous threat when attacking the basket. We are excited about the opportunity to watch her blossom as a student-athlete and as a person."
The two members of the class are Shayla Bennett of Piedmont, South Carolina, and Jhileiya Dunlap of Columbia, South Carolina. All-Star Girls Report have Bennett and Dunlap the No. 1 and No. 3 ranked junior college players, respectively, in the nation.
Bennett and Dunlap will have two years of eligibility remaining with Carolina after playing two seasons at Gulf State College in Panama City, Florida. Gulf State College is the No.1 ranked junior college team in the nation, and won its second-straight national championship last spring with Bennett and Dunlap serving as key contributors as freshmen.
Shayla Bennett
5-9 • Guard
Piedmont, S.C. • Christ Church School
Gulf Coast State College
Currently playing her second season at Gulf Coast State College, the No. 1 ranked junior college team in the nation and the two-time defending national champions • Received 2017 WBCA Junior/Community College Coaches' All-America honorable mention honors • Scored a team-high 21 points in the 2017 national title game • Averaged 15.6 points and shot 39 percent from the three-point line as a freshman in 2016-17 • Four-star rated guard by ESPN out of Christ Church School • Led Christ Church to back-to-back Class A state championships as a junior and senior • Named the 2015 South Carolina Class A Girl's Player of the Year • Greenville County Player of the Year in 2015 & '16 • 2015 Region 2A Player of the Year • 2016 The Greenville News All-Upstate Player of the Year • Averaged 20.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.7 steals per game as a junior • Competed with Carolina Hoopzsters for six years with Coach Willis Holliday • Daughter of John and Michelle Bennett • Brother, Carrio Bennett, played at South Carolina State.
Shayla Bennett on choosing Carolina: "Why Carolina? Why not Carolina? It's a place of loving people and people that will fight with you through anything. It's a great environment with a great coaching staff. I followed Coach Hatchell during her sickness a couple of years ago and to see how dedicated she was to her team even though she was in the hospital, won me over. She fought hard and I know she's going to push me hard. It just feels like home."
Hatchell on Bennett: "Shayla Bennett is an outstanding combo guard that can flat out score. She has a great understanding of the game, and will be a good floor general for us next season. She will bring a variety of skills and excitement to Carmichael Arena. We look forward to watching her develop as a Tar Heel in Carolina Blue."
Jhileiya Dunlap
6-2 • Forward
Columbia, S.C. • Dreher HS
Gulf Coast State College
Currently playing her second season at Gulf Coast State College, the No. 1 ranked junior college team in the nation and the two-time defending national champions • Had 18 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and three assists in the 2017 national title game • Named to the 2017 NJCAA All-Tournament Team • Named 2016 Gatorade South Carolina Girls Basketball Player of the Year • Averaged 20.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 3.6 steals and 3.1 blocks for the 2016 state championship winning team • 2016 Class AAA Player of the Year • Led Dreher to state championships in 2012, '14 and '16 • Four-time all-state and all-region selection • Competed with South Carolina 76ers for eight years • Daughter of Kesha Thomas.
Jhileiya Dunlap on choosing Carolina: "Carolina feels like home to me. I've been interested in UNC since I started watching women's college basketball at the age of 10. I admire the coaching staff and how Coach Hatchell is able to motivate her players to get the most out of them. UNC will help me grow academically and strengthen me as a player. I enjoy the diversity and the interactions between all the college students on campus. I'm excited to represent the Tar Heel Blue!"
Hatchell on Dunlap: "Jhileiya Dunlap is a skilled athlete that fits well into our system at the University of North Carolina. She is long, quick, and explosive! She can shoot the outside shot but is a tremendous threat when attacking the basket. We are excited about the opportunity to watch her blossom as a student-athlete and as a person."
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