Lexi Donarski is ready to make a statement in her final collegiate season
Lexi Donarski was a big-time transfer addition for the UNC women's basketball program prior to the start of the 2023-2024 season.
Facing the departure of Kennedy Todd-Williams, the Tar Heels were in need of a lockdown defender who could also shoot the basketball. For Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels, Donarski was a perfect fit, as she's set to now begin her final season of college basketball this fall.
Donarski is one of the key returners from last year's squad and has plenty to prove in her last go around. After a solid first season on campus, Donarski is looking to be even better this season in hopes of leading the UNC women's basketball program to a ton of success.
2023-2024 Season In Review
Donarski played in all 33 games for the Tar Heels a season ago, starting in 32. She ranked third on the team with 10.5 points per game and earned a spot on the All-ACC Academic Team.
Donarski had quite a few big-time performances a season ago, including a 22-point outing against UNCG (in which she connected on six of eight three-point field goal attempts), a 23-point showing in her first ACC game, and a performance against Pittsburgh in which she drained five second-half three-pointers. She also put together a strong 23-point outing against NC State in what ended up being a top-10 homecourt victory for the Tar Heels.
What to Expect in 2024-2025
I think it's easy to say what we can expect from Lexi Donarski this season: tremendous defense and above-average three-point shooting.
I'm very interested to see Donarski working with extra space, as Banghart has indicated that the Tar Heels offense should move more freely this season. If she has more room to shoot, we definitely can see her overall shooting percentages go up from a season ago.
It isn't out of the question to say that she can end up shooting close to 40% from the floor and around 36-37% from three.
Bold Prediction
Lexi Donarski will win the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Let's remember: this is the same student-athlete that won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Award during the 2022 season. She's still the same elite defender- she is now just wearing Carolina Blue.
This season, the conference will see just how much of a lockdown defender she is.