University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC coach Courtney Banghart has announced her first signing class.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Banghart Announces First Carolina Signing Class
November 19, 2019 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Since her arrival at UNC last spring, women's basketball coach Courtney Banghart has put special emphasis on recruiting the first group of players who would join the Tar Heel program under her watch. Seven months later, she's ready to present that class to the world.
Banghart announced Tuesday that five outstanding high school student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the North Carolina program. Deja Kelly, Anya Poole, Kennedy Todd-Williams, Alyssa Ustby and Ali Zelaya will join the Tar Heel roster in 2020, and Banghart isn't the only one touting their merits: as a group, the Carolina class has been ranked 11th nationally and fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference by ESPNW.
"My staff, team, and our entire Carolina Family are all so glad that this day is finally here," Banghart said. "The class of 2020 will always be extra special to us, as it's the first class we signed together here at North Carolina. We targeted these five very early on and we're beyond excited that they are now officially Tar Heels. All are eager to help us bring this program back to an elite level and all look forward to writing the first pages of our future.
"As a group, they bring a lot of everything to our roster. They bring versatility, length, talent, scoring ability, defensive toughness, speed, athleticism, a winning mentality, and an ability to play all five positions on the floor. They are winners, leaders, and proven teammates, and they will represent the North Carolina brand of broad-based excellence perfectly. We have high expectations for this class and they are eager to get started."
Kelly is a 5-8 guard from San Antonio, Texas, and attends Duncanville High School. A five-star recruit, she is ranked No. 17 overall in the ESPN girls basketball recruiting rankings. As a sophomore, she led the state of Texas and ranked in the top five nationally averaging 30 points per game, and through three seasons of high school play she has already passed 2,000 career points. A two-time all-state and three-time all-region selection, she was district MVP and her team's offensive MVP. She has been named to the McDonald's Invitational All-Tournament Team. Last Friday, she scored a career-high 47 points in a game.
"Deja has been a nationally-ranked and highly-recognized player for many years and is among the very best shooters in the 2020 class," Banghart said. "A gym rat, she continues to develop additional layers to her game and the sky is the limit to her talent. Deja is a shot-maker and a relentless scorer from behind the arc and in the mid-range. Her handle and high basketball IQ enable her to create her own and to make others better. We will lean on her to score early and throughout her career and also to handle the ball in the combo guard spot."
Poole is a 6-2 forward from Raleigh and attends Southeast Raleigh High School. Also a five-star recruit, she's No. 12 at her position and No. 50 overall in the ESPN rankings. She helped Southeast Raleigh to the state championship game as a junior and was named Most Outstanding Player after recording a double-double in the final. An all-conference and academic all-conference honoree, she has also been named all-district, All-Metro and All-East.
"Anya is coming off a great summer with the Carolina Flames," Banghart said. "A face-up and back-to-the-basket threat from the forward spot, Anya brings both toughness and finesse to the game. She can finish with both hands around the rim and she plays well with others. She can stretch the floor to 3 and rebounds out of her area. Anya is a true teammate and adds an important dimension to our inside attack."
Todd-Williams is a 5-11 guard from Jacksonville, N.C., where she attends Jacksonville High School. A four-star recruit, she's No. 23 at her position and No. 90 over all in the ESPN rankings, despite having played just 12 games last season before suffering an injury that kept her out the rest of the year. She has earned all-district honors and is a second-team all-state selection.
"Kennedy is a combo guard with great length and an ability to score at all three levels," Banghart said. "She will have the ball in her hands and will put pressure on the defense to create for herself or set others up. She has great length and defends her area very well. She can play through contact and will push the tempo. Kennedy has always wanted to be a Tar Heel and is eager to help this program thrive."
Ustby is a 6-1 wing from Rochester, Minn., and attends Lourdes High School. She earned all-state honors as a junior when she averaged 25.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game and is ranked No. 10 at her position by ESPN. A three-sport athlete (soccer and softball in addition to basketball) with 14 varsity letters, she holds her school's single-game scoring record, 43 points.
"Alyssa is an elite athlete, a proven winner, a selfless teammate, and a versatile two- way player," Banghart said. "She has great length and a relentless motor. She affects the game in so many ways. She can defend multiple positions, she will run the floor to earn easy ones, and she can score from the guard and forward spot. Alyssa is a winner – she was her high school soccer team's leading scorer, the shortstop on their state championship softball team, and she will soon set the school's scoring record for the basketball program. Everything she touches turns to gold and we are counting down to her arrival here."
Zelaya is a 6-4 forward from Goodyear, Ariz., and attends Millenium High School. Ranked No. 27 by ESPN at her position, she averaged 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds last season as a junior when she led her team to the 5A state championship. She was a finalist for the Arizona Central Sports Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award and earned all-conference honors.
"Ali is a skilled face-up stretch 4, with range to 3 and the length to play and defend in the post," Banghart said. "She is a quality passer, with great touch in the mid-range. She has the skillset to help us immediately and will be a teammate others will love to play with. An Adidas All-American, Ali's high school won the state championship for the first time in school history last year. She's a winner, a worker, and brings needed versatility to our post game."
UNC, off to a 3-0 start this season, hosts Elon on Friday at 6 p.m. to finish out a four-game homestand. After that, the Tar Heels head to Mexico where they'll face Temple and Missouri in the Cancun Challenge on Nov. 28 and 29.
Banghart announced Tuesday that five outstanding high school student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the North Carolina program. Deja Kelly, Anya Poole, Kennedy Todd-Williams, Alyssa Ustby and Ali Zelaya will join the Tar Heel roster in 2020, and Banghart isn't the only one touting their merits: as a group, the Carolina class has been ranked 11th nationally and fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference by ESPNW.
"My staff, team, and our entire Carolina Family are all so glad that this day is finally here," Banghart said. "The class of 2020 will always be extra special to us, as it's the first class we signed together here at North Carolina. We targeted these five very early on and we're beyond excited that they are now officially Tar Heels. All are eager to help us bring this program back to an elite level and all look forward to writing the first pages of our future.
"As a group, they bring a lot of everything to our roster. They bring versatility, length, talent, scoring ability, defensive toughness, speed, athleticism, a winning mentality, and an ability to play all five positions on the floor. They are winners, leaders, and proven teammates, and they will represent the North Carolina brand of broad-based excellence perfectly. We have high expectations for this class and they are eager to get started."
Kelly is a 5-8 guard from San Antonio, Texas, and attends Duncanville High School. A five-star recruit, she is ranked No. 17 overall in the ESPN girls basketball recruiting rankings. As a sophomore, she led the state of Texas and ranked in the top five nationally averaging 30 points per game, and through three seasons of high school play she has already passed 2,000 career points. A two-time all-state and three-time all-region selection, she was district MVP and her team's offensive MVP. She has been named to the McDonald's Invitational All-Tournament Team. Last Friday, she scored a career-high 47 points in a game.
"Deja has been a nationally-ranked and highly-recognized player for many years and is among the very best shooters in the 2020 class," Banghart said. "A gym rat, she continues to develop additional layers to her game and the sky is the limit to her talent. Deja is a shot-maker and a relentless scorer from behind the arc and in the mid-range. Her handle and high basketball IQ enable her to create her own and to make others better. We will lean on her to score early and throughout her career and also to handle the ball in the combo guard spot."
Welcome to Carolina, Deja Kelly!
This smooth combo guard from Texas has already scored 2,000 PTS in her HS career with a full season to go. The No. 17 player in her class, this 🖐-⭐️ gym rat chose UNC over Texas A&M, Duke, Minnesota, and Notre Dame. Let's do this, @dejakelly25! pic.twitter.com/BDZzaBzefy
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) November 19, 2019
Poole is a 6-2 forward from Raleigh and attends Southeast Raleigh High School. Also a five-star recruit, she's No. 12 at her position and No. 50 overall in the ESPN rankings. She helped Southeast Raleigh to the state championship game as a junior and was named Most Outstanding Player after recording a double-double in the final. An all-conference and academic all-conference honoree, she has also been named all-district, All-Metro and All-East.
"Anya is coming off a great summer with the Carolina Flames," Banghart said. "A face-up and back-to-the-basket threat from the forward spot, Anya brings both toughness and finesse to the game. She can finish with both hands around the rim and she plays well with others. She can stretch the floor to 3 and rebounds out of her area. Anya is a true teammate and adds an important dimension to our inside attack."
Welcome to Carolina, Anya Poole!
This double-double threat and ✋-⭐️
, athletic F grew up in the 🔺, but has made a name for herself nationally by anchoring the post play of one of the top HS teams in the country the past three years. Let's get to work inside, @anyapoole709! pic.twitter.com/b1XFr5HLjV
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) November 19, 2019
Todd-Williams is a 5-11 guard from Jacksonville, N.C., where she attends Jacksonville High School. A four-star recruit, she's No. 23 at her position and No. 90 over all in the ESPN rankings, despite having played just 12 games last season before suffering an injury that kept her out the rest of the year. She has earned all-district honors and is a second-team all-state selection.
"Kennedy is a combo guard with great length and an ability to score at all three levels," Banghart said. "She will have the ball in her hands and will put pressure on the defense to create for herself or set others up. She has great length and defends her area very well. She can play through contact and will push the tempo. Kennedy has always wanted to be a Tar Heel and is eager to help this program thrive."
Welcome to Carolina, Kennedy Todd-Williams!
This long and lanky G has been committed to UNC for years, but we couldn't be more excited about adding this Jacksonville baller to our roster. Her athleticism will help us instantly on both ends of the floor. Here we go, @Ktoddwilli! pic.twitter.com/jO5C8WFvc1
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) November 19, 2019
Ustby is a 6-1 wing from Rochester, Minn., and attends Lourdes High School. She earned all-state honors as a junior when she averaged 25.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game and is ranked No. 10 at her position by ESPN. A three-sport athlete (soccer and softball in addition to basketball) with 14 varsity letters, she holds her school's single-game scoring record, 43 points.
"Alyssa is an elite athlete, a proven winner, a selfless teammate, and a versatile two- way player," Banghart said. "She has great length and a relentless motor. She affects the game in so many ways. She can defend multiple positions, she will run the floor to earn easy ones, and she can score from the guard and forward spot. Alyssa is a winner – she was her high school soccer team's leading scorer, the shortstop on their state championship softball team, and she will soon set the school's scoring record for the basketball program. Everything she touches turns to gold and we are counting down to her arrival here."
Zelaya is a 6-4 forward from Goodyear, Ariz., and attends Millenium High School. Ranked No. 27 by ESPN at her position, she averaged 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds last season as a junior when she led her team to the 5A state championship. She was a finalist for the Arizona Central Sports Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award and earned all-conference honors.
"Ali is a skilled face-up stretch 4, with range to 3 and the length to play and defend in the post," Banghart said. "She is a quality passer, with great touch in the mid-range. She has the skillset to help us immediately and will be a teammate others will love to play with. An Adidas All-American, Ali's high school won the state championship for the first time in school history last year. She's a winner, a worker, and brings needed versatility to our post game."
UNC, off to a 3-0 start this season, hosts Elon on Friday at 6 p.m. to finish out a four-game homestand. After that, the Tar Heels head to Mexico where they'll face Temple and Missouri in the Cancun Challenge on Nov. 28 and 29.
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