Before even stepping foot on campus in Chapel Hill as a student, Lanie Grant earned some gold while competing with Team USA.
Already securing gold in two previous international competitions, Grant will look to add more hardware this summer, as she's been invited to USA Basketball's Women's U19 Trials.
Grant is one of 28 players expected to participate in the tryouts, which will begin on June 18 and take place in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The selected team will proceed to compete in the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup from July 12 to 20 in Brno, Czech Republic.
The Tar Heels guard is one of five rising sophomores who have been invited to participate. Eight rising freshmen are expected to be in attendance, while 13 members of the high school Class of 2026, along with one member from the 2027 and 2028 classes, will vie for a spot on the roster.
During the 2024-2025 season, a year in which Grant was still supposed to be a high school senior, the Midlothian, Virginia native joined the Tar Heels a year early, a decision that paid off for the UNC women's basketball program. In 34 games (two starts), Grant averaged 7.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 36.4% from the floor. Her development throughout the season provided Courtney Banghart with a reliable option off the bench to turn too, especially down the final stretch of the season.
Big things are expected of Grant in her second year on campus, but first, the rising sophomore has plans to help Team USA win some more gold. She'll have the opportunity to compete with (and against) some of the best talents the sport of women's college basketball has to offer.