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UNC addresses a glaring need by securing a commitment from transfer Achol Akot

The Tar Heels took a major step toward filling the void left by Nyla Harris' graduation.
ByNick Delahanty|
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Mar 21, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Achol Akot (11) beats Princeton Tigers guard Madison St. Rose (23) to a rebound in the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Mar 21, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Achol Akot (11) beats Princeton Tigers guard Madison St. Rose (23) to a rebound in the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Courtney Banghart and the UNC women's basketball program are officially on the board!

After hosting a pair of transfer portal targets on Friday, one already has decided to call Chapel Hill her next home.

Achol Akot commits to North Carolina

The Tar Heels made a big-time addition to its 2026-2027 roster, securing a commitment from former UCF and Oklahoma State transfer Achol Akot.

Akot, a 6-foot-1 forward from Ottawa, Ontario, began her college career at Central Florida, spending two seasons with the program. Mostly as a starter, Akot was a efficient player who provided a steady boost to the Knights' frontcourt, but never really took that next step in her game.

She decided to enter the transfer portal following the 2024-2025 season, finding a new home at Oklahoma State. This move was greatly beneficial for Akot, who put up a career year for the Cowgirls.

Akot started all 34 games, averaging 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per-game. She posted five double-double efforts and flirted with a handful more, as her best overall outing came on February 25, a game in which she scored 25 points and recorded 10 rebounds in a victory at Iowa State.

Heading into the offseason, Banghart and her staff knew they needed to fill the void left by Nyla Harris' graduation. Harris was a tremendous one-year addition for the Tar Heels, as she was arguably North Carolina's best overall player down the final stretch of the regular season into postseason.

While no one is asking Akot to be Nyla Harris, it would be extremely nice if she can put up similar numbers during her respective senior season!

The Tar Heels have plenty of work to do on the transfer portal recruiting trail, and bringing in Akot is a very nice start to that process. One of the team's biggest needs has now been addressed, as Akot brings veteran leadership and experience to a Tar Heels squad that will look a bit different than it did a season ago.

Now, we wait and see if Sophie Burrows, who also visited Chapel Hill on Friday, is next to claim North Carolina as her next landing spot.

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