Courtney Banghart and the UNC women's basketball program are excited about their incoming freshman class, a group that is headlined by five-star talent Nyla Brooks.
Brooks initially committed to Tennessee, but a coaching change for the Volunteers led her to reopen her recruitment. This opened the door for the Tar Heels, as Banghart and her staff helped convince Brooks that Chapel Hill is the right place for her.
Serving as the Tar Heels' first McDonald's All-American since Deja Kelly, Brooks has solidified herself as one of the top players in her recruiting class. Mitchell Northam of SB Nation wholeheartedly agrees, naming Brooks as one of his eight freshmen to watch this upcoming season.
8 freshmen you have to watch in women’s college basketball this season https://t.co/BMhdoNHZXR
— SB Nation (@SBNation) August 25, 2025
Brooks is a 6-foot-1 guard from Waldorf, Maryland and was ranked 13th in ESPN’s top 100 recruits for 2025. She’s a product of Bishop Ireton High School and led it to a state championship as a senior while averaging 18.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. She’s a player that UNC head coach Courtney Banghart is already very excited about, and she went head-to-head with Chavez in that Jordan Brand game, piling up 28 points and 10 boards. Brooks had initially committed to Tennessee, but reopened her recruitment when the Volunteers fired former coach Kellie Harper. She committed to UNC in August 2024, and the Tar Heels have been anticipating her debut ever since.
A player who can impact the game in a variety of ways, Brooks should make an immediate impact for the UNC women's basketball program this upcoming season. Fans should be excited to see what she's able to accomplish during her freshman season, as she seems very happy to finally be in Chapel Hill to begin her college basketball career.