Incoming UNC women's basketball freshman earns spot on USA Women’s U17 National Team

From 44 to 12.

The number 44 indicates the amount of players that participated in the Team USA trials in Colorado Springs since Wednesday, while 12 is the final number of players selected for the United States U17 women’s roster.

Of the 12 players selected, one will be wearing Carolina Blue this fall.

Incoming UNC women's basketball freshman Lanie Grant was once again selected to represent the United States, as she is one of seven returning players from the USA U16 National Team that won the gold medal last summer at the Women’s AmeriCup in Mexico.

This year, Grant and her teammates on the U17 team will compete in the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup, an event that will take place from July 13-21 in Mexico.

While this is great news, Grant caused fans of the UNC women's basketball program to hold their breath, as she suffered an ankle injury while competing in Saturday's portion of the event. She was held out by medical staff on Sunday, but what she showcased through the first few days of trials was more than enough for her to secure a spot.

Grant is expected to be ready for the competition in July, which is a sigh of relief for the Tar Heels. Last season, Courtney Banghart's team was heavily impacted by injuries, as the hope is that the injury bug stays away from Chapel Hill this upcoming season.

There is plenty of excitement for Grant's arrival on campus, as she elected to re-classify to join the UNC women's basketball program a year ahead of schedule. A talented scorer, Grant is a player who can make an immediate impact right away, as the Tar Heels will have a bit of a new look, especially in the backcourt this upcoming season.

It's great to see Grant gaining some more national experience before her freshman year of college begins, as she'll be competing against some of the best players the country has to offer. Without a doubt, the three-player incoming freshman class that Banghart has assembled, along with the returning players and some key transfer additions, have the makings of being a really good squad once the 2024-2025 season gets fully underway.