Lady Tar Heels Announce Four Member Signing Class, Ranked #2 Nationally
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina women’s basketball program will welcome a stellar foursome of freshmen for the 2021-22 season. The four players – Destiny Adams, Teonni Key, Kayla McPherson, and Morasha Wiggins – are each ranked in the top 18 and are collectively ranked as the No. 2 class in the nation. All signed National Letters of Intent with UNC on Wednesday (Nov. 11).
“It’s one of the very best days of the year, as we officially add the next class of Tar Heels to our program,” UNC Head Women’s Coach Courtney Banghart said. “At Carolina, we work hard to recruit the best nationally, as well as to ensure that the best talent in the state stays home. In this class, we did both and we couldn’t be more excited about all that lies ahead for this group. We are eager to add their speed, versatility, athleticism, shot-making, defensive toughness, and so much more to our program. Destiny, Teonni, Kayla, and Morasha chose Carolina for all the right reasons and they look forward to doing something special here together.”
Key, a 6-3 wing from Cary, N.C., is ranked ninth in the Class of 2021. She plays at Cary High School, where she is in her fourth year as a varsity starter. An all-conference selection in her first three years of high school, she was all-district as a sophomore and a second-team all-state pick as a junior, when she also was her team’s MVP. Key also has earned Academic Athletic Honor Roll recognition each year. In track, she reached the finals in the high jump at the 2018 New Balance Nationals, placing 10th with a jump of 5-7.
“Teonni is one of the premier players in the state of North Carolina,” Banghart said. “She has great versatility on both sides of the ball. At 6-3, she offers great length at the wing position and tremendous skill as a face-up forward. Her range extends to the arc and she can attack off the dribble. She can defend multiple positions, is an elite shot-blocker, and can help us play fast by igniting the break straight from a defensive rebound. The sky is the limit for Teonni and we look forward to adding one of the best players not only in the state but in the country as well, to our team.”
McPherson, a 5-7 guard from Hull, Ga., is ranked No. 17 nationally. She plays at Madison County High School and averaged a nation-best 36.3 points per game in 2019-20 when she was the Class AAAA Georgia Player of the Year, Sandy’s Spiel Georgia Miss Basketball, and an all-state selection. She also was the Athens Banner-Herald Girls Basketball Player of the Year. As a sophomore, she became the first Madison County player to be named Georgia’s Gatorade Player of the Year. She poured in 63 points in a single game as a junior and totaled 64 in one game as a sophomore.
“Kayla is an explosive lead guard who will help us play fast as a team,” Banghart said. “She is a dynamic offensive threat from all three levels and is relentless in her attack on both ends of the floor. She is great off the dribble, she has deep range, and she can both create her own shot and create for others. Kayla plays with extreme physicality, will defend her position over 94 feet, and will make everyone around her better. She’s one of the premier guards in the 2021 class and we look forward to adding her fearlessness and competitiveness to our team.”
Wiggins, a 6-0 guard from Kalamazoo, Mich., is ranked No. 18 nationally. She plays at Kalamazoo Central High School, where she was the Southwest Michigan Player of the Year in 2019. She is a three-time all-conference pick and earned an all-state honorable mention in 2020 after averaging 19.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, five assists, and three steals per game. In 2019, she averaged 25 points and nine rebounds per game and was named second-team all-state. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Athletics Student Council.
“Morasha is an elite-level wing and a premier two-way player,” Banghart said. “She can score at all three levels and her ability to stretch the floor will be a great addition to this team. She can shoot with range, is dynamic in 1v1 settings, and finishes well around the rim. She will rebound from her position and is plug-in ready defensively. Like her classmates, Morasha is a great athlete and incredibly versatile on both ends of the floor. She is a gym rat with unlimited potential and we are so glad that she’s a Tar Heel.”
Adams, a 6-3 wing from Whiting, N.J., plays at Manchester Township High School and is ranked No. 20 in the class. She was an all-state selection and the Shore Conference Player of the Year as a junior, when she had 19 double-doubles and shared Hoop Group Player of the Year honors. As a sophomore, she was all-conference and second-team all-state as Manchester Township won a state title.
“Destiny is a winner,” Banghart said. “She has proven to be a consistent double-double threat and will bring a high level of toughness to our team. She is one of the most elite rebounders in this class. She will go and get it out of her area and will help push the pace with and without the ball on a change of direction. Already a great athlete, Destiny is incredibly versatile. She can attack with her back to the basket and from the perimeter and will defend multiple positions at an elite level. She is a great teammate and will be an important addition to this team.”
This is UNC’s second highly-ranked class under Banghart, who is in her second season in Chapel Hill. The current freshman class of five, Banghart’s first Tar Heel signing class, was ranked No. 10 nationally.
Carolina is set to open the 2020-21 season on Nov. 25 with a home game against Radford. For the full schedule click here.