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Ciera Toomey's growth at UNC earns her a spot among the nation's top centers

The Tar Heels' center joins Achol Akot and Kate Harpring among the UNC players receiving major national recognition ahead of the season.
ByNick Delahanty
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Mar 6, 2026; Duluth, GA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Ciera Toomey (21) controls a pass near Virginia Tech Hokies forward Carys Baker (10) during the first half at Gas South Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Mar 6, 2026; Duluth, GA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Ciera Toomey (21) controls a pass near Virginia Tech Hokies forward Carys Baker (10) during the first half at Gas South Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ciera Toomey's development continues to receive some well-deserved recognition.

Toomey has been named to the 20-player preseason watch list for the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award, which annually recognizes the top center in Division I women's college basketball.

For Toomey, the honor is another indication of just how far she's come during her time in Chapel Hill.

Ciera Toomey has developed into a key piece for North Carolina

Toomey arrived at North Carolina as a highly touted prospect, but injuries kept her from showing what she could do right away.

Now healthy and coming off the best season of her college career, the 6-foot-4 center has established herself as one of Courtney Banghart's most important returning players.

Toomey averaged 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season, making her North Carolina's leading returning scorer and rebounder entering the 2026-27 campaign.

She also became a major presence on the defensive end.

Toomey recorded 53 blocks last season, the most by a Tar Heel since the 2023-2024 campaign. Her 1.5 blocks per game led North Carolina and ranked fourth in the ACC.

There were also glimpses of just how dominant she can be around the basket.

Toomey set a career high with 19 points against UNCW and later grabbed 15 rebounds against Georgia Tech, the most by a Tar Heel in a single game last season.

Now, she'll be asked to take another step forward for a Tar Heel team entering the season with some lofty expectations.

Toomey isn't the only North Carolina player receiving some major preseason recognition. Achol Akot, one of the Tar Heels' biggest offseason additions, was recently named to the preseason watch list for the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award after averaging 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds last season at Oklahoma State.

Freshman Kate Harpring has also put the nation on notice before her first official college game, as the highly-touted guard was named to the 50-player Naismith Women's College Player of the Year Watch List. Even more impressive, Harpring is the only freshman in the country to earn a spot on the list.

Add Toomey's latest recognition to the mix, and it's been quite the week for the UNC women's basketball program leading up to the start of the 2026-2027 season.

Of course, preseason watch lists don't determine how the season will play out. Toomey will have to prove she belongs among the country's elite centers once the games begin to count, especially as she prepares to take on a larger role for Banghart's squad.

Fortunately, we've already seen her make significant strides throughout her Tar Heel career, and now the country is starting to take notice.

Toomey's development has transformed her from a talented prospect into an important piece of a nationally-ranked North Carolina team.

Her latest honor is simply another reminder of how far she's come and how important she could be to the Tar Heels this season.

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