University of North Carolina Athletics
Maria Gakdeng will transfer to UNC and join the women's basketball roster for 2023-04.
WBB Adds Gakdeng To Roster
April 3, 2023 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Maria Gakdeng, a 6-3 post player, will transfer to North Carolina and join the Carolina women's basketball team ahead of the 2023-24 season, UNC coach Courtney Banghart announced on Monday.
"We have been very intentional and selective in monitoring the transfer portal," Banghart said. "Today is a great day, as we are thrilled to add someone of Maria's talent and character to our Tar Heel family. She has great experience and success in our league, and she is aligned perfectly in our competitive and collective goals."
Gakdeng, from Lanham, Md., has been part of the starting lineup at Boston College for the past two seasons. She averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds for BC in 2022-23, shooting .578 from the floor. (That percentage would have ranked second in the ACC, but she fell just shy of the minimum five makes per game required for inclusion.)
She ranked third in the ACC in blocks (1.76 per game), 10th in rebounding and 20th in scoring in 2022-23, her sophomore season.
In 2021-22, Gakdeng was named to the ACC's All-Freshman Team and was the league's Freshman of the Week five times. She averaged 2.21 blocks per game, first nationally among freshmen and 15th in the nation.
Gakdeng is a graduate of New Hope Academy and was a McDonald's All-American Game nominee as a senior.
"I chose Carolina to be a part of something special," she said. "Not only did the coaches, players, and environment feel like home, but I would also be surrounded by a winning culture and a group that wants to see one another at their best on and off the court."
"We have been very intentional and selective in monitoring the transfer portal," Banghart said. "Today is a great day, as we are thrilled to add someone of Maria's talent and character to our Tar Heel family. She has great experience and success in our league, and she is aligned perfectly in our competitive and collective goals."
Gakdeng, from Lanham, Md., has been part of the starting lineup at Boston College for the past two seasons. She averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds for BC in 2022-23, shooting .578 from the floor. (That percentage would have ranked second in the ACC, but she fell just shy of the minimum five makes per game required for inclusion.)
She ranked third in the ACC in blocks (1.76 per game), 10th in rebounding and 20th in scoring in 2022-23, her sophomore season.
In 2021-22, Gakdeng was named to the ACC's All-Freshman Team and was the league's Freshman of the Week five times. She averaged 2.21 blocks per game, first nationally among freshmen and 15th in the nation.
Gakdeng is a graduate of New Hope Academy and was a McDonald's All-American Game nominee as a senior.
"I chose Carolina to be a part of something special," she said. "Not only did the coaches, players, and environment feel like home, but I would also be surrounded by a winning culture and a group that wants to see one another at their best on and off the court."
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