University of North Carolina Athletics
This year's signing class is the third in Courtney Banghart's four years at UNC to be ranked among the nation's top 11.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
WBB Signs Standout Class Of Four
November 18, 2022 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Four exceptional student-athletes have signed letters of intent to play for the University of North Carolina, women's basketball coach Courtney Banghart announced Friday. RyLee Grays, Laila Hull, Reniya Kelly and Ciera Toomey will join the Tar Heel program ahead of the 2023-24 season.
"My staff and I search tirelessly for the right combination of talent, character, and a relentless and winning mentality to add to our Tar Heel program," Banghart said. "These four student-athletes bring exactly what we need. They offer size, versatility, toughness, and a relentless work ethic. RyLee, Laila, Reniya, and Ciera come to Chapel Hill excited to wear the Carolina blue and to help us take important steps forward as a program."
Toomey, ranked fourth in the class of 2023, is a five-star recruit. Kelly (No. 30), Grays (No. 90) and Hull are four-star recruits. Together they've been ranked as high as the No. 5 recruiting class in the nation.
Grays is a 6-3 post player from Pearland, Texas. She attends Pearland High School and has already passed 1,400 career points and 1,100 rebounds. As a freshman at The Village School, she was part of a state championship team.
She's the daughter of Corey Grays and Danyeal Grays, both of whom played college basketball at Saint Louis University. Grays plays for CyFair Elite EYBL, which won the 2022 Nike National Championship in July.
Hull is a 6-1 guard from Zionsville, Ind. She attends Zionsville Community High School, where last season she averaged 20.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The daughter of Stacey and Lee Hull, who is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Howard, she plays club basketball for the Nike Lady Gym Rats.
Kelly is a 5-7 point guard from Hoover, Ala. She was named the 2022 Class 7A State Player of the Year as she led Hoover High School to a second consecutive state championship and its third in the past four years. Kelly also earned a spot on the 2022 Super All-State Team as one of the top five players in the state, regardless of classification. She is the daughter of Ural Mitchell and Keri Mitchell and played club basketball for FBC United.
Toomey is a 6-4 forward from Dunmore, Pa. In her junior year at Dunmore High School, she was the Max Preps Pennsylvania Player of the Year and a Naismith All-America honorable mention as well as league player of the year. In addition to her basketball skills, she is an avid golfer.
The daughter of Patrick and Carrie Toomey, she is coached by her mother, who played basketball at Franklin & Marshall and then overseas. Toomey plays club basketball for NEPA Elite and has been named Hoop Group MVP.
This class is the third in Banghart's four seasons at UNC to be ranked among the nation's top 11.
UNC is 3-0 so far this season and ranked No. 13 nationally. The Tar Heels return to action on Sunday, traveling to Harrisonburg, Va., to take on James Madison for a 2 p.m. tipoff.
"My staff and I search tirelessly for the right combination of talent, character, and a relentless and winning mentality to add to our Tar Heel program," Banghart said. "These four student-athletes bring exactly what we need. They offer size, versatility, toughness, and a relentless work ethic. RyLee, Laila, Reniya, and Ciera come to Chapel Hill excited to wear the Carolina blue and to help us take important steps forward as a program."
Toomey, ranked fourth in the class of 2023, is a five-star recruit. Kelly (No. 30), Grays (No. 90) and Hull are four-star recruits. Together they've been ranked as high as the No. 5 recruiting class in the nation.
Grays is a 6-3 post player from Pearland, Texas. She attends Pearland High School and has already passed 1,400 career points and 1,100 rebounds. As a freshman at The Village School, she was part of a state championship team.
She's the daughter of Corey Grays and Danyeal Grays, both of whom played college basketball at Saint Louis University. Grays plays for CyFair Elite EYBL, which won the 2022 Nike National Championship in July.
Hull is a 6-1 guard from Zionsville, Ind. She attends Zionsville Community High School, where last season she averaged 20.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The daughter of Stacey and Lee Hull, who is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Howard, she plays club basketball for the Nike Lady Gym Rats.
Kelly is a 5-7 point guard from Hoover, Ala. She was named the 2022 Class 7A State Player of the Year as she led Hoover High School to a second consecutive state championship and its third in the past four years. Kelly also earned a spot on the 2022 Super All-State Team as one of the top five players in the state, regardless of classification. She is the daughter of Ural Mitchell and Keri Mitchell and played club basketball for FBC United.
Toomey is a 6-4 forward from Dunmore, Pa. In her junior year at Dunmore High School, she was the Max Preps Pennsylvania Player of the Year and a Naismith All-America honorable mention as well as league player of the year. In addition to her basketball skills, she is an avid golfer.
The daughter of Patrick and Carrie Toomey, she is coached by her mother, who played basketball at Franklin & Marshall and then overseas. Toomey plays club basketball for NEPA Elite and has been named Hoop Group MVP.
This class is the third in Banghart's four seasons at UNC to be ranked among the nation's top 11.
UNC is 3-0 so far this season and ranked No. 13 nationally. The Tar Heels return to action on Sunday, traveling to Harrisonburg, Va., to take on James Madison for a 2 p.m. tipoff.
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