University of North Carolina Athletics
Key Named to ACC's Newcomer Watch List
October 20, 2021 | Women's Basketball
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Watch out for Teonni Key.
That's the consensus from voters as Key, a UNC freshman, was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Newcomer Watch List, as announced on Wednesday morning by the league. A guard/forward from Cary, N.C., Key was one of five honorees selected by the Blue Ribbon panel, which is made up of media and school personnel.
"This is an exciting recognition for Teonni," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. "She had a brilliant high school career and is respected as one of the best freshmen in the country."
The ACC announced the team as part of a slew of preseason honors, including All-ACC teams and preseason polls. The Tar Heels were ranked seventh in both the Blue Ribbon and coaches' polls. To see the full release from the ACC, click here.
This marks the second year in a row that a Tar Heel has been part of the Newcomer Watch List. Deja Kelly was on the list for 2020-21 and went on to earn All-Freshman Team honors at the season's end.
Key, who ranked ninth in the espnW Class of 2021 rankings, arrived in Chapel Hill over the summer with an impressive list of honors, including McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand Classic Girls National Team recognition. With hard work, she has continued to improve.
"As her coaches, we have been so pleased with her level of focus and sense of purpose since joining our team," Banghart said. "She wants to be great and is willing to put in the work. The sky is the limit for Teonni and we are all thrilled she's a Tar Heel."
Carolina opens the 2021-22 season on Nov. 9 with a home game against North Carolina A&T. For ticket information, click here. For the full 2021-22 schedule, click here.
2021-22 ACC PRESEASON HONORS
Blue Ribbon Panel & Head Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Sr., C
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team (57 voters)
Taylor Soule, Boston College, Sr., F (1)
Delicia Washington, Clemson, Gr., G
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, Sr., F (1)
Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, Georgia Tech, Sr., G
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, So., G (1)
Jakia Brown-Turner, NC State Jr., G (1)
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Sr., C (42)
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame, So., F
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C (10)
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, Gr., G (1)
() Indicates preseason player of the year votes
Blue Ribbon Panel Newcomer Watch List
Payton Verhulst, Louisville, Fr., G
Teonni Key, North Carolina, Fr., F
Diamond Johnson, NC State, So., G
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Blue Ribbon Panel Predicted Order of Finish (57 voters)
NC State (50) - 847 points
Louisville (7) - 789
Georgia Tech - 691
Virginia Tech - 644
Florida State - 607
Notre Dame - 580
North Carolina - 488
Duke - 464
Miami - 355
Clemson - 324
Boston College - 297
Wake Forest - 250
Syracuse - 227
Pitt - 160
Virginia - 117
() Indicates first-place votes
Head Coaches Preseason All-ACC Team
Taylor Soule, Boston College, Sr., F
Delicia Washington, Clemson, Gr., G
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, Sr., F
Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, Georgia Tech, Sr., G
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, So., G
Jakia Brown-Turner, NC State Jr., G
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Sr., C (13)
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame, So., F
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C (2)
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, Gr., G
() Indicates preseason player of the year votes
Head Coaches Newcomer Watch List
Celeste Taylor, Duke, Jr., G
Payton Verhulst, Louisville, Fr., G
Diamond Johnson, NC State, So., G
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Head Coaches Predicted Order of Finish
NC State (14) - 224 points
Louisville (1) - 207
Georgia Tech - 192
Virginia Tech - 172
Florida State - 152
Notre Dame - 149
North Carolina - 127
Duke - 125
Miami - 92
Clemson - 83
Boston College - 78
Syracuse - 60
Wake Forest - 59
Pitt - 47
Virginia - 33
That's the consensus from voters as Key, a UNC freshman, was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Newcomer Watch List, as announced on Wednesday morning by the league. A guard/forward from Cary, N.C., Key was one of five honorees selected by the Blue Ribbon panel, which is made up of media and school personnel.
"This is an exciting recognition for Teonni," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. "She had a brilliant high school career and is respected as one of the best freshmen in the country."
ACC Newcomer Watch List ✅
Congrats @Tkey_13 ❗️
🔗 https://t.co/xDvBmUDz1Q#GoHeels | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/SiGZXIETB8
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) October 20, 2021
The ACC announced the team as part of a slew of preseason honors, including All-ACC teams and preseason polls. The Tar Heels were ranked seventh in both the Blue Ribbon and coaches' polls. To see the full release from the ACC, click here.
This marks the second year in a row that a Tar Heel has been part of the Newcomer Watch List. Deja Kelly was on the list for 2020-21 and went on to earn All-Freshman Team honors at the season's end.
Key, who ranked ninth in the espnW Class of 2021 rankings, arrived in Chapel Hill over the summer with an impressive list of honors, including McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand Classic Girls National Team recognition. With hard work, she has continued to improve.
"As her coaches, we have been so pleased with her level of focus and sense of purpose since joining our team," Banghart said. "She wants to be great and is willing to put in the work. The sky is the limit for Teonni and we are all thrilled she's a Tar Heel."
Carolina opens the 2021-22 season on Nov. 9 with a home game against North Carolina A&T. For ticket information, click here. For the full 2021-22 schedule, click here.
2021-22 ACC PRESEASON HONORS
Blue Ribbon Panel & Head Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Sr., C
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team (57 voters)
Taylor Soule, Boston College, Sr., F (1)
Delicia Washington, Clemson, Gr., G
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, Sr., F (1)
Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, Georgia Tech, Sr., G
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, So., G (1)
Jakia Brown-Turner, NC State Jr., G (1)
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Sr., C (42)
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame, So., F
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C (10)
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, Gr., G (1)
() Indicates preseason player of the year votes
Blue Ribbon Panel Newcomer Watch List
Payton Verhulst, Louisville, Fr., G
Teonni Key, North Carolina, Fr., F
Diamond Johnson, NC State, So., G
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Blue Ribbon Panel Predicted Order of Finish (57 voters)
NC State (50) - 847 points
Louisville (7) - 789
Georgia Tech - 691
Virginia Tech - 644
Florida State - 607
Notre Dame - 580
North Carolina - 488
Duke - 464
Miami - 355
Clemson - 324
Boston College - 297
Wake Forest - 250
Syracuse - 227
Pitt - 160
Virginia - 117
() Indicates first-place votes
Head Coaches Preseason All-ACC Team
Taylor Soule, Boston College, Sr., F
Delicia Washington, Clemson, Gr., G
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, Sr., F
Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, Georgia Tech, Sr., G
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, So., G
Jakia Brown-Turner, NC State Jr., G
Elissa Cunane, NC State, Sr., C (13)
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame, So., F
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C (2)
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, Gr., G
() Indicates preseason player of the year votes
Head Coaches Newcomer Watch List
Celeste Taylor, Duke, Jr., G
Payton Verhulst, Louisville, Fr., G
Diamond Johnson, NC State, So., G
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Head Coaches Predicted Order of Finish
NC State (14) - 224 points
Louisville (1) - 207
Georgia Tech - 192
Virginia Tech - 172
Florida State - 152
Notre Dame - 149
North Carolina - 127
Duke - 125
Miami - 92
Clemson - 83
Boston College - 78
Syracuse - 60
Wake Forest - 59
Pitt - 47
Virginia - 33
Players Mentioned
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