University of North Carolina Athletics
Standout guard Lexi Donarski has signed with the UNC women's basketball program.
Donarski To Join WBB Program
May 11, 2023 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Lexi Donarski, a 6-foot guard, will transfer to the University of North Carolina and join the Carolina women's basketball team ahead of the 2023-24 season, UNC coach Courtney Banghart announced on Thursday. A McDonald's All-American selection out of high school, Donarski has spent the past three seasons at Iowa State, where she has been named both Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
"We prepared to play Iowa State twice over the last two years, and both years, Lexi was a focal point," Banghart said. "She's a true two-way player who can score and facilitate while guarding the other team's best player, night after night. She's a winner in every sense of the word.
"The minute we saw her name in the portal, she became someone we had to have. After meeting her family and having her on campus, we knew she was the perfect fit. We're all excited for the impact she'll make in our program."
Donarski, from LaCrosse, Wis., averaged 12.1 points per game for the Cyclones in 2022-23 when she was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team for the second year in row. She was the 2021 Big 12 Freshman of the Year in her first season in Ames after averaging 13.0 points per game, tops among the conference's freshmen. As a sophomore she was the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Big 12 selection. In addition to her defensive efforts, she ranked 17th nationally in three-pointers with 88 makes as she averaged 14.3 points per game.
She is a two-time Academic All-District and Academic All-Big 12 first team honoree.
Donarski is a graduate of Aquinas High School and was Wisconsin's Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior, when she averaged 24.2 points per game. She was a McDonald's All-American and a member of the Jordan Brand Classic Girls National Team.
"I'm super excited to become a part of the North Carolina women's basketball program," Donarski said. "The excellent coaches, the great fanbase, the rich tradition, and the exciting style of play that the Tar Heels are known for is something I look forward to being a part of. I'm excited to play with this great group of girls on the team and look forward to doing big things with them. Go Tar Heels!"
"We prepared to play Iowa State twice over the last two years, and both years, Lexi was a focal point," Banghart said. "She's a true two-way player who can score and facilitate while guarding the other team's best player, night after night. She's a winner in every sense of the word.
"The minute we saw her name in the portal, she became someone we had to have. After meeting her family and having her on campus, we knew she was the perfect fit. We're all excited for the impact she'll make in our program."
𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 ✍️
Please join us in welcoming @lexi_donarski to the Carolina family!
🔗: https://t.co/hu43YJbnCx#GoHeels | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/Qbsj07a9Fi
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) May 11, 2023
Donarski, from LaCrosse, Wis., averaged 12.1 points per game for the Cyclones in 2022-23 when she was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team for the second year in row. She was the 2021 Big 12 Freshman of the Year in her first season in Ames after averaging 13.0 points per game, tops among the conference's freshmen. As a sophomore she was the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Big 12 selection. In addition to her defensive efforts, she ranked 17th nationally in three-pointers with 88 makes as she averaged 14.3 points per game.
She is a two-time Academic All-District and Academic All-Big 12 first team honoree.
Donarski is a graduate of Aquinas High School and was Wisconsin's Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior, when she averaged 24.2 points per game. She was a McDonald's All-American and a member of the Jordan Brand Classic Girls National Team.
"I'm super excited to become a part of the North Carolina women's basketball program," Donarski said. "The excellent coaches, the great fanbase, the rich tradition, and the exciting style of play that the Tar Heels are known for is something I look forward to being a part of. I'm excited to play with this great group of girls on the team and look forward to doing big things with them. Go Tar Heels!"
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