UNC Women’s Basketball extends offer to Class of 2026 standout

Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program are among the teams looking to add this Class of 2026 Top-20 prospect.

On social media, Class of 2026 Top-20 player Amari Byles announced that she received an offer from Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program.

Byles, a 6-foot-2 wing who ranks No. 18 overall in the Class of 2026 (according to HoopGurlz Recruiting) is a DeSoto, Texas native. Her current ranking has her as a four-star prospect, but it’s possible that she could earn that fifth star before her high school career comes to an end.

DeSoto High School features one of the best dynamic duos in the country, as Byles, along with fellow Class of 2026 standout Kamora Pruitt (who ranks No. 20 overall in the class), have definitely caught the attention of college programs across the country.

Recently, Prospects Nation provided an evaluation of Byles’ game:

"Byles has world upside.  She has frontcourt size but a smoothness to her ball skill to be comfortable play facing the basket.  She is a worker too.  Her jumper is in good shape with her range now extending.  She could elevate her pocket a little but the base mechanics are all there.  She got downhill off the bounce and used her body to protect the ball against smaller quicker defenders.  She wasn’t afraid to try new things in breakdowns either.  For a 2026 player in a gym full of upperclassmen she really held her own."

Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program have done well on the recruiting trail, especially within the state of Texas. Given their recent success at recruiting the top talents available, expect the Tar Heels to be heavy players in Byles’ recruitment.

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