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UNC Women’s Basketball: The anticipated debut of Kayla McPherson

By Nick Delahanty

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 21: A general view of a ball rack holding basketballs of the North Carolina Tar Heels during a game against the Louisville Cardinals on February 21, 2022 at Dean E. Smith Center on February 21, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 21: A general view of a ball rack holding basketballs of the North Carolina Tar Heels during a game against the Louisville Cardinals on February 21, 2022 at Dean E. Smith Center on February 21, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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She hasn’t been able to make her UNC women’s basketball debut yet, but when she does, we expect big things from Kayla McPherson.

Even before she arrived on campus, the injury bug has derailed Kayla McPherson quite a bit.

As a true freshman last season, McPherson was forced to be sidelined due to an injury she suffered during her senior year of high school.

Before the start of the 2022-2023 season, the UNC women’s basketball program announced that the 5-foot-8 guard would miss at least the team’s non-conference slate, as she suffered what the program called a “lower-body injury.”

Even though we haven’t seen her suit up for the Tar Heels yet, she has the potential to be an impact player from the minute she returns to the floor.

High School

Given that she didn’t play last season, we’re using this section to remind you that McPherson is, as the kids would say, a “walking bucket.”

In case you’re not up-to-date on the current lingo, this simply means that she is a great scorer. She showcased that skill during her high school years, as she led the nation in scoring during the 2019-2020 season while averaging a staggering 36.3 points per game.

While playing for Madison County High School, McPherson scored 64 points in a single game during her sophomore year and followed it up with a 63-point performance during her junior season.

To put it into perspective, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that she was the No. 17 overall-ranked player in her recruiting class.

What to Expect in 2022-2023

At this point, the big question is: when will McPherson be able to return?

It seems as if the non-conference schedule is out of the question, but will she be ready to return come the new year when the conference slate starts to heat up?

We’ll have to wait and see, but if she can return, expect Courtney Banghart to ease her back in, most likely using her in a reserve role.

Bold Prediction

My bold prediction is this: I expect McPherson to not only return healthy but become a major factor in the UNC women’s basketball rotation this season.

Her return will provide the Tar Heels with a player who could provide a major spark off the bench, and her offensive skillset will play a major role in the team’s success, especially down the stretch.

Check out our previously released 2022-2023 UNC women’s basketball player previews below:

Paulina Paris | Teonni Key |

Next. Hubert Davis signs new six-year deal. dark

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