Coming off a 29-win season and a Sweet 16 appearance, North Carolina womens basketball coach Courtney Banghart was left with some holes to fill in her rotation this offseason.
A cornerstone of her program and the Tar Heels all-time leading rebounder, Alyssa Ustby, had finally exhausted her eligibility, as did fellow starters Lexi Donarski, Maria Gakdeng, and reserve guard Grace Townsend. Banghart filled some of that void with pickups from the transfer portal, bringing in Louisvilles Nyla Harris and UCLAs Elina Aarnisalo, but shes confident in the group of freshmen that have arrived in Chapel Hill too.
This incoming rookie class is another strong one for Banghart as it features three players ranked in ESPNs top 100 recruits for 2025. The headliner, and perhaps the player that Banghart is most excited about, is Nyla Brooks.
You know, I havent had a McDonalds All-American here since (Deja Kelly), and Nyla Brooks is moving every bit like one, Banghart said this week. Every day, Nyla Brooks walks in the gym, hugs me and says, Coach, I got two goals: To get better and to learn. And shes doing both& Shes every bit as good as a McDonalds All-American should be, and shes handling this process even better than most do, because shes patient. She understands her job right now is to learn. She doesnt take that process too seriously.
The McDonalds All-American stat isnt totally true: Destiny Adams, Teonni Key and Kayla McPherson were chosen to play in the game in 2021, but it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indya Nivar, who began her career at Stanford before transferring into UNC in 2023, was a McDonalds All-American too.
Still, that Banghart thought it was worth pointing out Brooks singularity and mentioned her in the same sentence as Deja Kelly is noteworthy. The way that Banghart now about to begin her seventh season in Chapel Hill talked about Brooks could be an indicator that shes going to be an impactful contributor right away and perhaps a transformative player for a program eager to take the next step.
Shes gifted. Shes able to get to her spot. Shes tough. I mean Im trying to be patient so I dont just give away all the things I love about her, but she is just such a bright spot, Banghart said. So, shes got great length, great athleticism, elite defensively, and can really get to her spot. Shes shooting the heck out of it too. So she adds a lot to our team.
Brooks is a 6-foot-1 guard from Waldorf, Maryland and was ranked 13th in ESPNs top 100 recruits for 2025. Shes a product of Bishop Ireton High School and led it to a state championship as a senior while averaging 18.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
In addition to being named a McDonalds All-American, she was also selected for the Jordan Brand Classic and was named Gatorade Virginia Girls Basketball Player of the Year. In the McDonalds game, Brooks finished with 11 points, four rebounds and two steals in just 15 minutes of action. Playing closer to home in the Jordan game, Brooks was even better, pouring in a game-high 28 points and 10 rebounds, often trading baskets with Oklahomas Aaliyah Chavez.
Brooks committed to North Carolina back in August 2024. Before signing with the Tar Heels, she listed Maryland, Tennessee and Georgia as her other finalists. She had initially committed to Tennessee, but reopened her recruitment when the Volunteers fired former coach Kellie Harper. Brooks also held offers from Arizona, Mississippi State, Virginia, West Virginia, Pitt, Wake Forest and Georgetown.
UNCs other two incoming freshmen are Taliyah Henderson and Taissa Queiroz. Henderson is ranked as the 27th best recruit in this class by ESPN and is a fellow five-star prospect, while Queiroz has featured for the Brazilian national team. Queiroz also enrolled early at UNC and has been practicing with the Tar Heels since last winter.
(Henderson) picked up a late UConn offer because the kid is so athletic. I mean, she makes (Alyssa Ustby) look, at times, slow, Banghart said. Shes incredibly dynamic, very bouncy& Shes a pretty darn good basketball player. Can really shoot it, rebounds out of her area really well.
The hurdle for Banghart is now this: She has two Nylas on the team in Brooks and Harris.
Who is in charge of creating nicknames to differentiate the two of them?
Its funny, because I sort of asked the team to take care of it. And then its like, Well, lets call them Brooks and Harris. The problem is, neither of them answer to Brooks or Harris, right? So Im doing that. Im doing what I was told, Banghart said with a laugh. No, nothing has stuck yet& Were going to rely on both of them, so theyre going to have to figure it out.
If Brooks lives up to the hype and if Harris makes the leap to becoming an All-ACC standout, folks are going to hear the name Nyla quite often in Carmichael Arena this season.
