UNC Basketball: Ustby named to Small Forward of the Year Watch List

The UNC women’s basketball standout is among the players selected for the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List heading into the 2023-2024 season.

Each year, the Cheryl Miller Award is presented to the nation’s best small forward.

Heading into the 2023-2024 season, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced the 20-player watch list. For the second consecutive season, Alyssa Ustby represents the UNC women’s basketball program on the list.

Ustby is one of two ACC student-athletes to be included on the initial list this year. She is coming off a junior season where she was a first-team All-ACC selection as well as a WBCA honorable mention All-America honoree.

The Rochester, Minnesota native was the only player in the Atlantic Coast Conference to rank in the top 10 in field goal percentage (third), rebounding (fourth), blocks (ninth) and steals (10th).

Ustby does a little bit of everything for the UNC women’s basketball program, as she hopes to continue her success on the court while leading the Tar Heels to greater heights this upcoming season.

The Tar Heels have one of the best duos in the entire country, as Ustby, and fellow senior Deja Kelly, are expected to once again be major contributors for Courtney Banghart’s squad. Kelly also earned some preseason honors, as she was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List.

North Carolina, which comes in at No. 16 in the AP Preseason Top 25, will open up its season at home against Gardner-Webb on November 8.

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