UNC Women's Basketball among the finalists for one of the top international players

You might not have heard the name before, but you should familiarize yourself with this international prospect that the UNC women's basketball program is heavily pursuing.

Joyce Isi Etute, a 6-foot-1 center, has narrowed her recruitment down to seven schools. North Carolina made the cut, being one of three ACC programs still in the mix.

While you won't find her name on many top 100 lists, Isi Etute might just be the hidden gem of the 2026 recruiting class. As she's set to compete for IMG Academy this upcoming academic year, she heads to the states with an already impressive basketball resume.

To give you a perspective of just how good she's been competing in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket, check out these insane numbers she's posted over the last few years:

2022 (U16)- 14 points, 15.8 rebounds (7 games played)
2023 (U16)- 15.8 points, 18.2 rebounds (6 games played)
2024 (U18)- 18.7 points, 13.4 rebounds (6 games played)

Talk about impressive numbers!

Courtney Banghart and the UNC women's basketball program have been active on the international recruiting market, most recently securing a commitment from Brazil native Taissa Queiroz (who enrolled at North Carolina in January). They are focused on finding the best possible talent for their future rosters, identifying international products who could play a major role if they choose to make their way to Chapel Hill.

This recruitment will be an interesting one to follow, especially as she gains more recruiting hype once her talents are on display at IMG Academy. It might not take long before the country starts to realize that Joyce Isi Etute might just be one of the top overall players that the Class of 2026 has to offer.