North Carolina women's basketball recruiting: 3 high school prospects Courtney Banghart can target ft. Nyla Brooks
Courtney Banghart's fifth season as North Carolina's coach came with ups and downs. The Tar Heels opened the season by winning five consecutive games but finished with a 20-13 record. Nevertheless, they received an at-large invitation to the NCAA Tournament and reached the second round, leaving a win against rival NC State as the highlight of the year.
Their 2023-24 record was their third consecutive 20-win season. After missing the NCAA Tournament in her first year, UNC has had four straight tourney berths, winning at least one game in each of the past three seasons, including a Sweet 16 run in 2021-22.
As Courtney Banghart looks to continue elevating the program, here are a few high school prospects whom the university can see donning its jersey.
Top 3 high school prospects Courtney Banghart can target
#1, Destiny Jackson, Whitney Young High School (Chicago)
Five-star prospect Destiny Jackson, a 5-foot-6 point guard, will visit North Carolina from June 17-19, according to Inside Carolina.
Jackson, ranked No. 24 by ESPN, likes to go heavy on offense to play quick. Last offseason, she was invited to Stephen Curry's training camp in California. Since then, Jackson has transitioned to a leadership role and has become more vocal on the court.
Now, as Jackson aims to base her game on high-quality looks, she is slowly narrowing down her collegiate options. She has Division I scholarship offers from Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State and Arizona State.
#2, Nyla Brooks, Bishop Ireton High School (Alexandria, Virginia)
Nyla Brooks is a versatile five-star prospect who is ranked No. 15. The 6-foot-1 dynamic wing has shown gradual improvement in her game since entering high school. She has all the tools to disrupt a defense and started doing that aggressively and consistently. Brooks has an image of being in the gym whenever she is not on the court, which will certainly make Courtney Banghart's job easy.
Brooks had committed to Tennessee, her dream school, even before her ranking began soaring. However, she reopened her commitment on April 2 after the Lady Vols changed coaches. Brooks is scheduled to visit the North Carolina campus on July 20, giving Courtney Banghart and her staff enough time to lure her in.
#3, Kennedy Henry, Westtown School (West Chester, Pennsylvania)
Guard Kennedy Henry, a four-star prospect, led Blair Academy to its third consecutive Mid-Atlantic Prep League trophy by posting 35 points in the finale last season. Henry can score on all three levels and has a natural talent for finding the net. She averaged 20.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game during her junior season.
On defense, Henry, who is ranked No. 77, can hold her own and provide great help defense. She has the understanding of not biting on pump fakes and utilizing her size to her advantage.
Even though Henry committed to Virginia Tech in June 2022, she decommitted in early April after the recent coaching change and for a chance to learn more about the new coaching staff. Nevertheless, she is also encouraging interest from other programs, enabling Courtney Banghart and crew to swoop in with an offer.
Henry played for Blair Academy in Blairstown Township, New Jersey, for her first three seasons but will play for Westtown School for her senior season, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.