University of North Carolina Athletics
Shayla Bennett sported jersey No. 22 for the first time as a Tar Heel at photo day on Tuesday.
With Season Less Than A Month Away, UNC Suits Up For Photo Day
October 8, 2019 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Shayla Bennett was all smiles on Tuesday afternoon, and not just because it was photo day for the UNC women's basketball team. Now a senior, she was sporting jersey No. 22 for the first time as a Tar Heel, and actually for the first time since high school.
Bennett wore the number in high school at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, S.C. But in two seasons at Gulf Coast State College she wore No. 24, and then sported jersey No. 0 during her first year at UNC when Tar Heel guard Paris Kea was playing in No. 22.
With Kea now in the WNBA, where she wore No. 7 this season for the Indiana Fever, Bennett finally has her favorite number back.
No. 22 has deep roots for Bennett. Her brother, Carrio Bennett, wore the number at South Carolina State and her father, John Bennett, wore it at Berea High School. "It's something that symbolizes family for me," she said. "I don't feel like myself without this number."
Which may have made Tuesday extra special for her, but her teammates had a great time, too. In full uniform and full smiles, they cycled through stations in Carmichael Arena for headshots, portraits and videos.
It was the first photo day for the Tar Heel freshmen. "It's been great," said first-year guard Nia Daniel, sporting her No. 32 jersey. "I had a lot of fun just being around my team and everybody was just amazing. The energy was great."
The Tar Heels have just under a month until their first regular-season game. They'll host Wingate for an exhibition on Nov. 2, then open the 2019-20 season at home against Western Carolina on Nov. 7. Wearing uniforms on the Carmichael court on Tuesday made the season seem that much closer.
"I'm already super excited," said freshman guard Lexi Duckett, "but this makes it seem real, like it's almost here."
Duckett will wear jersey No. 33. Other new jersey numbers: freshman guard Kennady Tucker will wear No. 4 and freshman forward Malu Tshitenge will wear No. 21. Bennett is the only returner with a number change.
For a look at the entire Tar Heel roster, click here.
Bennett wore the number in high school at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, S.C. But in two seasons at Gulf Coast State College she wore No. 24, and then sported jersey No. 0 during her first year at UNC when Tar Heel guard Paris Kea was playing in No. 22.
With Kea now in the WNBA, where she wore No. 7 this season for the Indiana Fever, Bennett finally has her favorite number back.
No. 22 has deep roots for Bennett. Her brother, Carrio Bennett, wore the number at South Carolina State and her father, John Bennett, wore it at Berea High School. "It's something that symbolizes family for me," she said. "I don't feel like myself without this number."
Which may have made Tuesday extra special for her, but her teammates had a great time, too. In full uniform and full smiles, they cycled through stations in Carmichael Arena for headshots, portraits and videos.
Lights 💡
Camera 🎥
Action 🎬
🏀⏳ | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/NNnrCKGDYP
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) October 9, 2019
It was the first photo day for the Tar Heel freshmen. "It's been great," said first-year guard Nia Daniel, sporting her No. 32 jersey. "I had a lot of fun just being around my team and everybody was just amazing. The energy was great."
The Tar Heels have just under a month until their first regular-season game. They'll host Wingate for an exhibition on Nov. 2, then open the 2019-20 season at home against Western Carolina on Nov. 7. Wearing uniforms on the Carmichael court on Tuesday made the season seem that much closer.
"I'm already super excited," said freshman guard Lexi Duckett, "but this makes it seem real, like it's almost here."
Duckett will wear jersey No. 33. Other new jersey numbers: freshman guard Kennady Tucker will wear No. 4 and freshman forward Malu Tshitenge will wear No. 21. Bennett is the only returner with a number change.
For a look at the entire Tar Heel roster, click here.
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