The real ones know how good Maria Gakdeng has played this season.
Gakdeng has played a vital role in the UNC women's basketball program's success this season. Whether she's called upon to score the basketball or is tasked to defend the post (which, in most cases, results in a blocked shot for her), the senior is more than capable of getting the job done.
While you hear a lot about the likes of Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski (rightfully so), Gakdeng is the under-the-radar star that deserves more credit. Mark Schindler of Bleacher Reports realizes what Gakdeng brings to the table, tabbing her as one of the 10 most underrated women's college basketball players right now.
Why She's Underrated: Team Depth
The North Carolina Tar Heels routinely roll out an 11-player rotation, with no player averaging 30 minutes per game on the roster. If you're not watching the games closely and just perusing the box score, you miss out on just how much a player is actually impacting the action.
Maria Gakdeng has played the most dominant basketball of her career since getting right from an early-season injury. In Carolina's win over Kentucky, Gakdeng was the best big on the court, feasting on the glass and in the post while also wreaking havoc on defense. Foul trouble was an issue at times in past seasons, but she's found an additional level of poise as a senior, and Courtney Banghart's squad is better for it.
Gakdeng is a paragon of efficiency, leading the ACC in field-goal percentage last season at 62.6 percent from the field. She's lapping that this season, shooting a shocking 68.9 percent from the floor, which ranks ninth nationally from inside the arc. She's also fourth in the ACC in block percentage.
When Gakdeng is on the floor, good things happen for the Tar Heels.
Gakdeng's production has been outstanding for the UNC women's basketball program, as the Tar Heels hope she can keep her success going throughout the second half of the 2024-2025 season.