University of North Carolina Athletics
Ariel Young has appeared in three games for the Tar Heels this season.
Young Will Not Return To The Court For UNC
February 20, 2023 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Senior Ariel Young has completed her basketball playing career and will not return to the court this season for the Tar Heels. Young, a guard from Tallahassee, Fla., has appeared in three games this season after missing all of last year with a knee injury.
"Ariel has worked so hard to get back on the court and sadly it just isn't going to happen," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. "When you've played basketball your whole life it's so difficult to see it end, and as a coach it's excruciating to watch that happen for one of your players. Ariel will absolutely remain just as big a part of our team, and she is adored as she settles into this new role."
Young started her career at Michigan and transferred to UNC in January of 2020, midway through Banghart's first season. In 2020-21, she came off the bench to play in all 24 games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per game. Her career high as a Tar Heel came against UNCG early in the 2020-21 season, when she scored 11 points in a homecourt win.
She suffered a knee injury in preseason before the start of the 2021-22 season and missed the entire year after undergoing surgery in November.
In 2022-23, playing as a senior, she saw action in three straight games in December. Her return to the court came against UNCW and she also played against Wofford and USC Upstate. She has not appeared in a game since then.
An exercise and sport science major, Young earned Dean's List honors for the fall semester and will graduate in May. She plans to remain in Chapel Hill to enroll in UNC's Sport Administration graduate program.
Both of Young's parents were collegiate basketball standouts and her mother, Carolyn, played in the WNBA and for the U.S. team in the 1992 Olympic Games. Her father, C.Y., is the associate head coach for the University of Missouri men's basketball team.
"With both of my parents playing then coaching, I've grown up around basketball and it's hard to imagine not playing anymore," Young said. "But I'm not saying goodbye to the game – I will continue to impact our program in every way that I can."
Young is one of three Tar Heel seniors who will be honored on Thursday in Senior Night ceremonies following Carolina's game against Virginia Tech. Tipoff at Carmichael Arena is 8 p.m.
"Ariel has worked so hard to get back on the court and sadly it just isn't going to happen," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. "When you've played basketball your whole life it's so difficult to see it end, and as a coach it's excruciating to watch that happen for one of your players. Ariel will absolutely remain just as big a part of our team, and she is adored as she settles into this new role."
Young started her career at Michigan and transferred to UNC in January of 2020, midway through Banghart's first season. In 2020-21, she came off the bench to play in all 24 games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per game. Her career high as a Tar Heel came against UNCG early in the 2020-21 season, when she scored 11 points in a homecourt win.
She suffered a knee injury in preseason before the start of the 2021-22 season and missed the entire year after undergoing surgery in November.
In 2022-23, playing as a senior, she saw action in three straight games in December. Her return to the court came against UNCW and she also played against Wofford and USC Upstate. She has not appeared in a game since then.
An exercise and sport science major, Young earned Dean's List honors for the fall semester and will graduate in May. She plans to remain in Chapel Hill to enroll in UNC's Sport Administration graduate program.
Both of Young's parents were collegiate basketball standouts and her mother, Carolyn, played in the WNBA and for the U.S. team in the 1992 Olympic Games. Her father, C.Y., is the associate head coach for the University of Missouri men's basketball team.
"With both of my parents playing then coaching, I've grown up around basketball and it's hard to imagine not playing anymore," Young said. "But I'm not saying goodbye to the game – I will continue to impact our program in every way that I can."
Young is one of three Tar Heel seniors who will be honored on Thursday in Senior Night ceremonies following Carolina's game against Virginia Tech. Tipoff at Carmichael Arena is 8 p.m.
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