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#UNC players Noelle Bofia, Chloe Clardy, Kate Harpring, Sophie Burrows and Achol Akot
Sep 3, 2026
Start Noelle Bofia
4:44 Chloe Clardy
10:44 Kate Harpring
17:56 Sophie Burrows
22:57 Achol Akot
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0:01
Hey, so, so,
0:02
how how
0:04
helpful was it for you to come in early
0:06
last season and practice with the team
0:08
this spring?
0:10
>> Mhm, you said how helpful was it?
0:11
>> How how how helpful was it for you to
0:13
come early?
0:14
>> It was very helpful. I mean, I got a lot
0:16
of time to work on my game and try to
0:18
improve myself to be best for the team
0:20
and yeah, that's all. So, yeah.
0:22
>> Was that your idea or was that
0:23
Courtney's idea?
0:24
>> It was my idea.
0:25
>> All right.
0:26
So, you'd already graduated from high
0:28
school, so it gave you the option?
0:30
>> I mean,
0:31
you know
0:31
>> You
0:31
>> Oh, now I understand what you're saying.
0:34
Yeah, that was the coach's idea. Yeah.
0:36
>> So, uh
0:38
what did you learn practicing with the
0:40
team last season and going to the games?
0:43
>> What I learned last season? I learned
0:45
like the pressure of the game kind of
0:47
and how like every player takes that
0:49
pressure differently.
0:50
I guess like it's very good to be like
0:52
confident in your game
0:55
to grow and flourish. So, yeah.
0:58
>> What
0:59
Explain what you bring what your game
1:01
brings to Carolina for somebody who
1:03
hasn't seen you play.
1:05
>> What my game brings?
1:06
>> Yeah.
1:07
>> It's a surprise.
1:09
>> It's a surprise, huh?
1:10
>> Yeah.
1:12
>> All right, well, I know you bring height
1:15
at 6'4". Uh
1:18
the this uh
1:20
how how can you impact the game with
1:22
your height?
1:23
>> How can I impact the game with
1:24
>> With your height, yeah.
1:25
>> Um like I can impact in the post.
1:28
Um
1:29
layups, rebounds, block shots.
1:32
I mean, that's
1:33
what every tall person usually is
1:35
supposed to do.
1:37
>> What's the strongest part of your game
1:38
right now?
1:39
>> Strongest part? I'd say like my hook
1:40
shots.
1:41
>> Your what?
1:41
>> Hook shots.
1:42
>> Hook shots?
1:43
>> Yeah.
1:44
>> And uh just tell me how the front court
1:47
is shaping up. There's a lot of
1:49
uh experienced people in there and um
1:53
how how do you how do you think
1:54
everybody's meshing in inside?
1:57
How's the team meshing inside with all
1:59
the
2:00
uh
2:01
big centers and forwards that you've
2:03
got?
2:03
>> Like, how are you like connecting?
2:05
>> Yeah. Yeah.
2:06
>> Oh, we're doing great. Yeah. I love
2:08
every single one of them.
2:10
Yeah.
2:12
>> And then what was the recruiting process
2:14
like for you and why did you pick
2:16
Carolina?
2:17
>> The recruiting process?
2:19
Um
2:21
I mean, it was good. I chose Carolina
2:23
because I felt like it had the best
2:24
opportunity for me and my values.
2:27
Um we try to get better and improve
2:29
consistently and that's what I found
2:31
when I came on my visit. I think it was
2:33
just a great place to, you know, grow.
2:36
>> What did
2:37
Go ahead.
2:38
>> Yeah, yeah. That was
2:39
>> What impressed you about the program?
2:41
>> What impressed me?
2:42
>> About the program, yeah.
2:43
>> I think the team. It was very much the
2:45
team. That's why like every visit I made
2:47
to other schools, I feel like the team
2:48
bond wasn't there, but I came here and
2:50
everybody was united, so
2:53
>> What about sacrificing your senior high
2:56
school season? Was that difficult for
2:58
you to do?
2:59
>> Uh
3:00
a little bit, yeah.
3:01
Had to leave my friends, but um I think
3:04
it was just I just had to think about my
3:06
growth, put put me first kind of, so
3:09
>> And then in instead of your senior prom,
3:12
you were in Chapel Hill.
3:14
>> Yeah.
3:15
>> Did that Was that kind of tough as well?
3:18
>> Um it was hard It was just like
3:20
challenging to adjust, but it was it was
3:23
great. I think it worked out very well
3:25
in the end. Yeah.
3:26
>> So, you're from Phoenix, right? Did you
3:28
know Ally Allyah? Did you talk to her
3:31
when you you were being recruited? She's
3:32
from the Phoenix area and played for
3:34
Carolina.
3:36
And then
3:36
>> I didn't speak to her, no.
3:38
>> Okay.
3:39
>> Yeah.
3:39
>> So, So, what what do you What are you
3:41
looking for? What kind of potential do
3:43
you think this team has this season?
3:46
>> I think it has a lot of potential.
3:48
Um
3:49
Wait, what am I I don't know.
3:50
Yeah. Sorry.
3:52
>> As far as as far as goals for the
3:54
season,
3:55
wins, NCAA tournament, advancing,
3:58
winning an ACC title, that sort of
3:59
thing.
4:00
>> Yeah. I think we're going to make it
4:01
very far, to be honest. Yeah.
4:06
>> What what what do you think are the
4:07
biggest surprises that people will see
4:08
from this team who have
4:11
and all of the newcomers? Who's
4:12
impressed you about the newcomers?
4:15
>> Who's impressing me like the new
4:16
>> Uh from the newcomers.
4:18
>> As in transfers, too?
4:18
>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.
4:19
>> Oh.
4:20
Who's impressing me?
4:21
>> Yeah.
4:21
>> I mean, all of them. They all have like
4:23
like great What do you call them?
4:26
Sorry. They're just like talents. Like
4:28
everyone has different talents to like
4:30
bring up the team and
4:31
connect us even more. I think that's
4:33
just really helpful.
4:35
I can't choose just one. That's what I'm
4:37
trying to say.
4:37
>> All right. There you go. There you go.
4:39
Thanks.
4:42
Okay. So,
4:44
why did you decide to leave Stanford and
4:46
why was Carolina the right place for
4:47
you?
4:48
>> Um I think it was a tough decision, but
4:51
ultimately, I just wanted to put myself
4:53
in a different position to compete at a
4:55
higher level um and compete with the
4:57
best and just
4:59
I think I had a great connection with
5:01
Coach Banghart before in my um
5:03
recruiting process before, so it just
5:05
When I came in my visit, it just felt
5:06
like home.
5:08
>> So, that was a long time ago then. So,
5:10
you're going to be a senior. You played
5:12
three seasons. So, she recruited you out
5:15
of Conway, Arkansas
5:17
in high school, right?
5:18
>> Yes.
5:19
>> What were your final schools?
5:21
>> Um
5:23
My final schools were ultimate It was
5:26
Stanford, Vanderbilt, and Florida State.
5:29
Those were the three I took my official
5:30
visits to. But,
5:32
we we still had a a great connection
5:34
prior to that.
5:35
>> Uh-huh. Because you didn't even visit
5:37
Carolina before, right?
5:38
>> I didn't. I was going to, but I I stuff
5:41
happened, so I I I didn't, but
5:43
>> But, tell me about There was that one
5:45
spring weekend, I think, you and a
5:47
couple of other transfers visited and
5:49
they all committed that weekend. Tell me
5:51
about the dynamic of that weekend and
5:53
the vibe.
5:54
>> Um, it was high, honestly. I mean, going
5:56
into the portal after already going
5:58
through the recruiting process, I
5:59
already knew what I wanted. So, I think
6:01
just when I came on campus, they
6:04
they showed me everything that I needed
6:05
to see and being a being a transfer,
6:08
it's easier to know what you're looking
6:09
for. So, I think I already knew and the
6:11
players are great, the culture is great,
6:13
coach had everything laid out and so it
6:16
was just perfect.
6:17
>> What what were you looking for in your
6:18
school and what specifically did
6:20
Carolina give you to to check those
6:23
boxes?
6:24
>> Yeah, I I mean, I want to go pro
6:25
ultimately, so I want to go to the pros
6:28
and I know they've done it before and
6:30
they they wrote wrote out the plan for
6:32
me and what they saw for me and this is
6:33
the development that they see and that's
6:35
what we're following.
6:37
>> What did you learn at Stanford that you
6:38
can bring to Carolina
6:40
through your through seasons at
6:41
Stanford?
6:42
>> I think just being smart and the IQ
6:44
level,
6:46
we Stanford's a smart school, so I I
6:48
think that we're all smart there and so
6:51
I think just bringing that intelligence
6:52
over
6:54
and carrying it on here.
6:55
>> So, for for somebody who has not seen
6:57
you play,
6:59
give us a scout report on
7:02
Chloe and what you do, what you bring to
7:04
the court and what your strengths and
7:06
weaknesses are.
7:07
>> Right. Um,
7:09
I didn't give the full scout report, but
7:10
I would say I'm
7:11
pretty good on defense. I I take pride
7:13
in my defense and my shooting and just
7:16
my IQ level, especially. I think I see
7:19
the game well and so that's what I I try
7:20
to bring to the court
7:22
and to all those around me as well.
7:25
>> So, obviously there's a
7:27
lot of guard guards coming in on this
7:30
team.
7:31
How do you fit into that mix? Will you
7:33
be more of a two guard or or how do you
7:36
fit how do you feel like you'll fit in?
7:38
>> I think just whatever the coaches see,
7:40
whatever they need at that moment, I
7:42
think we're all interchangeable and we
7:43
can all handle the ball and play off the
7:45
ball as well. So, I think that's going
7:47
to help with the speed of the game, too.
7:48
Being in the ACC, it's it's fast-paced.
7:50
So, I think it's just going to be
7:52
helpful for us all to bring the ball,
7:54
run the floor, do whatever is needed,
7:56
and defend.
7:57
>> Have you played point before?
7:58
>> I have.
7:59
>> Yes. Did you play point at Stanford?
8:01
>> I did. I played mainly point guard and
8:03
some at two guard.
8:04
>> So, there's there's a lot of lead guards
8:06
on this team.
8:07
Uh how how flexible will that make the
8:11
team when you've got maybe two or maybe
8:13
three lead guards on at the same
8:15
time?
8:16
>> I think it's just going to help us play
8:17
faster and always it's going to help us
8:19
on the defensive end, too, being able to
8:20
pick up full court. Um
8:22
it's going to help us push the ball.
8:23
Just whoever whoever's closest can just
8:24
bring it. And so, they can just take it
8:26
with them. Everybody else fill their
8:28
lanes and then we're going.
8:30
>> And what excites you about the style
8:32
that uh Coach Banghart has told you that
8:35
this team will follow? It seems like she
8:37
wants to run more than last season and
8:41
put the defense up more than last
8:42
season.
8:43
>> I think those things specifically, the
8:44
defense and the running up the floor, as
8:46
well as just like playing basketball,
8:47
just and reading and reacting is the
8:51
biggest thing and I know that's what you
8:52
need at the next level, as well.
8:54
>> Is it Is it weird to transfer within the
8:57
league and knowing that I guess you're
8:59
going to Stanford next season?
9:01
>> Right.
9:02
>> How odd will that be going
9:04
going to your old gym, playing old
9:06
teammates?
9:06
>> Right. I mean, it'll be fun. I mean,
9:09
I have no bad feelings towards Stanford.
9:11
So, I think just being back in a place
9:13
where I spent 3 years of my college
9:15
career already will be fun.
9:17
>> So, how hard is it to build chemistry
9:21
when so many new parts are coming in
9:25
and with the returning parts?
9:27
>> Right. I think a lot of that goes to the
9:29
off-the-court stuff that we do and just
9:31
having the chemistry off the court that
9:34
also transfers on the court, as well.
9:36
And I think just the more time we spend
9:38
together, the better we'll be on the
9:40
floor as well. And we we practice well
9:41
together already, so it's just flowing.
9:44
>> Your impressions of Kate, she comes in
9:46
with a lot of accolades.
9:48
>> Mhm.
9:48
>> What what does she bring to the team?
9:50
>> I mean, I think everything. I mean, you
9:52
said it yourself, she's number one
9:53
player in the country, brings in all the
9:55
accolades, and she's she's a high
9:57
competitor. And so, I mean, I learn a
9:59
lot from her being a senior as well. And
10:01
so, I I can't wait to see her play.
10:04
>> So, what do you think that this team can
10:06
accomplish that maybe you're unable to
10:10
get to at Stanford?
10:12
>> I think just I mean, they've gone to the
10:14
Sweet 16 back-to-back, so I think making
10:16
it there again and then even going
10:18
further. I think we the sky's the
10:19
ceiling for this team.
10:22
>> Appreciate it.
10:22
>> Thank you.
10:24
>> Okay, Kate, we've heard so much about
10:27
you and your talent.
10:29
Give us
10:31
a scouting report for somebody who maybe
10:33
had not seen you play. What do you bring
10:35
to the team? What are your strengths and
10:37
weaknesses? And what do you expect to
10:39
give the team this season?
10:40
>> Yeah, for sure. I think a big thing for
10:42
me is my competitiveness. Um, I feel
10:44
like I'm a very tough player.
10:46
Um, and I really just put everything out
10:47
on the floor. Um, I think that's a big
10:49
thing and
10:51
um, also like my IQ. I feel like um, a
10:54
lot of guards uh,
10:56
are really focused on one thing, but I
10:58
feel like I'm very
10:59
um, I feel like I'm a very equally
11:01
balanced player um, both offensively and
11:03
defensively.
11:04
>> So, the versatile
11:07
you you can you're saying you can beat
11:09
teams in different ways, not
11:10
one-dimensional.
11:11
>> Yes.
11:12
>> Now,
11:13
what I talking to Chloe a little bit and
11:17
know what I know from the attorneys,
11:18
there are a lot of lead guards on this
11:21
team.
11:22
How big of an advantage is that to have
11:24
so many
11:25
players who can handle the ball?
11:27
>> Yeah, um, it's definitely good,
11:28
especially coming in. I'm able to learn
11:30
a little bit from people who have
11:32
already been in that situation, but also
11:34
I feel like we all bring something
11:35
different. Kind of like I said, I mean,
11:37
we all have different strengths um and I
11:39
feel like they go really well together.
11:42
>> Tell me about your recruitment. I mean,
11:43
obviously your dad played at Georgia
11:45
Tech, so some people would say, "Oh,
11:46
she'll probably go to Georgia Tech." But
11:48
obviously that didn't happen. How How
11:50
did your recruiting progress and how did
11:52
you end up settling on North Carolina?
11:54
>> Yeah, it was definitely a very long
11:55
process. Um I went on a lot of
11:57
unofficials, a lot of officials visits.
11:59
Um and I feel like with that I learned a
12:01
lot and I really figured out what I do
12:03
like and what I don't like in programs.
12:05
Um
12:06
and then I ultimately settled in UNC. I
12:08
feel like one of the big things for me
12:10
was Coach Banghart. I feel like she was
12:11
the perfect coach for me as a head coach
12:13
and then just the people the diff- the
12:15
rest of the coaching staff. I feel like
12:17
I can get better here and then the team.
12:18
The team here is great. I feel like um I
12:21
really enjoy being around my teammates
12:23
and that was a big thing that I really
12:24
wanted.
12:24
>> You said she's perfect a perfect coach
12:26
for you. What Explain why.
12:28
>> Yeah. Um I think she knows how to coach
12:30
me and um how I want to be coached how I
12:33
want to be coached and then also off the
12:35
court she's someone that you can go to
12:37
with anything and I feel like that was a
12:38
big thing for
12:39
>> What was the big biggest part toughest
12:41
part of the transition going from Marist
12:43
Academy to practicing against Division I
12:46
players? What did you notice right off
12:48
the bat?
12:48
>> Yeah. Um definitely the competitive
12:50
competitiveness in every practice. I
12:52
feel like every practice is loud um and
12:55
it's very competitive in these gyms. Um
12:57
but also the speed of play. I mean,
12:58
everyone talks about it going from high
13:00
school to college the speed of play um
13:02
is really a big change for a lot of
13:03
people um and I feel like as I keep
13:05
playing I'm going to keep getting better
13:07
at that type of thing.
13:08
>> What have some of the older players
13:09
taught you in the in you I mean, you've
13:11
been playing with them since when? Uh
13:14
May?
13:14
>> Yeah. Uh June.
13:16
>> June?
13:16
>> Yeah.
13:16
>> What What have the older players taught
13:18
you maybe some things you you didn't
13:21
know before?
13:22
>> Mhm. I feel like the mental side of
13:23
things. Uh that's definitely everything
13:26
is higher stakes when you're in college,
13:27
you're on a bigger platform. So, I feel
13:29
like the mental side of things, um,
13:31
they've helped me a lot with. I mean,
13:32
they know it's a hard transition. They
13:33
know it's not going to be easy. So,
13:35
they're always there. They're always
13:36
like encouraging you, helping me in that
13:38
way.
13:39
>> And with your accolades come a lot of
13:42
expectations.
13:43
Uh,
13:44
are you are you fond of those
13:46
expectations or not worried about it?
13:49
What's your mindset on that?
13:51
>> Yeah. Um, with those accolades
13:52
definitely comes a lot of pressure. I
13:54
mean, you definitely feel it, but a big
13:56
thing for me has always been throughout
13:57
high school and um, throughout college
13:59
I'm going to want to keep the main thing
14:01
the main thing. I mean, I feel like
14:02
basketball, um, will take care of itself
14:05
if you really focus on it and you don't
14:06
really worry too much about the outside
14:08
noise. So, uh, just keeping the main
14:10
thing the main thing is definitely going
14:11
to be big.
14:11
>> Does your dad help you in that regard?
14:14
>> For sure. Um, my dad, he's been my
14:16
trainer. He's been the person that's
14:17
kind of helped me a lot with a lot um,
14:19
with a lot of basketball growing up. I
14:21
mean, he's the person I always go to.
14:23
Um, and so he's been through it. It's
14:25
super nice and super cool to have that
14:26
type of person for me. Um, and he he
14:29
just knows. I mean, he knows me better
14:30
than anyone else. So, um, he for sure
14:33
helps me a lot through that.
14:34
>> What do you what do you like about the
14:36
style that Courtney is obviously
14:38
planning to
14:40
model off, make defense a big part of of
14:44
creating turnovers and create
14:45
transition? What do you like about the
14:47
style that you're going to be playing?
14:48
>> Yeah. I think that's how I like to play.
14:50
I like to play fast and we can play
14:51
fast. I like to slow down and get into
14:53
an action if we want to get into that.
14:55
And then, like you said, defense is a
14:57
big thing and I feel like that's always
14:59
been a big thing for me. Um, and one of
15:01
the things I feel like that separates me
15:03
from other players is my defense. Um,
15:06
I feel like I mean, I can defend and
15:08
then I can also, um, use transition to
15:10
my advantage and I feel like that's
15:11
something that could suit you really
15:13
nice.
15:13
>> Are you comfortable facing the top
15:16
scoring guard on another team? You feel
15:18
like you can
15:20
do that?
15:21
>> Yeah. I feel like I mean, I definitely I
15:22
need to keep working and keep getting
15:24
better, but um I mean, that's definitely
15:26
going to be the goal is to compete
15:28
against those top players.
15:29
>> What's the ceiling of this team this
15:31
season?
15:32
>> Yeah, I mean, I think we have a really
15:34
bright future ahead. I feel like um this
15:36
season is going to be great. We have a
15:37
lot of fun
15:39
um trips and fun games, which is going
15:40
to be super exciting, but um I mean, I
15:43
think I think we can be one of the top
15:44
teams.
15:45
>> Never been to Paris?
15:46
>> Yeah, never been. I'm excited.
15:48
>> Oh.
15:48
W- What's the best piece of advice your
15:50
dad has given you
15:52
going into your college career
15:54
reflecting on how his career went?
15:56
>> Yeah, kind of like I was saying before,
15:58
um
15:59
the pressure that college brings and the
16:01
pressure that I've had from high school
16:02
to get into to now transition into
16:05
college.
16:06
Um he kind of like he I was saying, like
16:08
just work hard, keep the main thing the
16:09
main thing, and that's what work out for
16:11
itself. Um just when you work hard, you
16:13
put in um all the extra hours, you put
16:15
in um your best in every practice, it'll
16:18
work out.
16:18
>> Did Did your parents push you toward
16:20
basketball or did you go there on your
16:23
own?
16:23
>> Yeah, I actually played a lot of sports
16:25
growing up. I played five sports till I
16:26
was in like fourth grade, and then kind
16:29
of narrowed it down to three. So, I
16:30
played soccer, tennis, and uh obviously
16:32
basketball. Pretty much um
16:35
throughout until high school, and then I
16:37
only could go play tennis and
16:38
basketball. So, I was up in the air
16:40
between I mean, I was pretty competitive
16:42
in tennis, but I mean, I just I feel
16:45
like I was always just better at
16:46
basketball. Like, it just kind of came
16:47
to me naturally, and I feel like that
16:49
was just I just had the most fun playing
16:51
with the team and being part of it.
16:52
>> What was the peak of your tennis career?
16:54
Was there any particular titles or
16:56
anything?
16:56
>> Um I won a couple tournaments, yeah. Um
16:59
I would say honestly, I really like the
17:00
team aspect of things, and me and my
17:03
doubles partner, we did like really well
17:05
in like the national hard courts. Um
17:08
and we like made it to like a high
17:10
round. If we just If it was just so fun.
17:12
Like, it was just one of the moments
17:14
I'll never forget, cuz she's like one of
17:16
my closest friends that we just made it
17:17
so far in the tournament, which is super
17:18
sad.
17:18
>> So, what age was that?
17:20
>> I want to say it was U14. So, it was
17:23
like kind of long. That's when I started
17:25
to like dip down after that, cuz
17:27
basketball kept taking over, but I want
17:29
to say it was like U14.
17:31
Um
17:33
I think we got I don't even remember,
17:35
honestly, but it was just a fun
17:36
tournament.
17:37
>> So, what's a fun off-the-court fact
17:39
about you?
17:40
>> Yeah, I mean, honestly, off the court, I
17:41
just love to hang out with people. I
17:43
feel like that's been a big thing I've
17:45
I've just been doing, getting used to my
17:46
teammates, and having so much fun with
17:47
them. Um I just yeah, I just love just
17:50
uh be around people. Um and I feel like
17:52
that's what brings me the most joy.
17:56
>> So, what brought you from Australia to
17:59
play basketball in America?
18:01
>> Um it was definitely just like the
18:03
opportunity it presented, you know, I
18:04
had the opportunity to play
18:06
professionally in Australia, but I think
18:09
the opportunity to play college was just
18:11
I mean, it was something I couldn't pass
18:12
up, you know, to grow as a person on and
18:14
off the court, but um I think yeah, it's
18:17
been one of the best decisions I've ever
18:19
made, so.
18:20
>> What were the biggest uh cultural and
18:21
basketball adjustments?
18:23
>> Um basketball-wise, it's definitely a
18:24
quicker game over here. I think we're a
18:26
little bit more uh you know, slowed
18:28
down, a little bit more of an IQ game in
18:30
Australia. Um
18:32
so, basketball-wise, it's definitely a
18:34
quicker game, you know, people are a
18:35
little bit more athletic, that kind of
18:36
thing, so I've had to adjust my shot,
18:38
I've had to adjust a few things, like
18:39
the way I play, um you know, my angles
18:41
on defense, that kind of thing. Um off
18:44
the court,
18:45
I don't know, I feel like the cultures
18:46
are pretty similar. Um you know, little
18:48
things like the food and you know, being
18:50
without your family, that kind of thing
18:52
is a bit of a shock, but it's relatively
18:54
similar.
18:54
>> How about you and Chloe, you're both
18:56
transferring within the league? How How
18:58
does How does How does that
19:00
How does it feel weird to transfer
19:02
within the league, and knowing that
19:03
you're going to play for your teammates
19:05
and your former coach?
19:06
>> Yeah, I mean, it's a little bit strange.
19:07
I think we'll cross that path when we
19:09
get to it, but um
19:11
I mean, just being in the ACC and having
19:13
3 years of experience in this league, I
19:14
think I know what to expect when I
19:16
coming into games. I think it's a really
19:18
competitive league and
19:20
you know, bring it up to bring that
19:21
experience to this team. I think it's
19:22
something that I'm really trying to
19:23
focus on and
19:25
yeah, I'm excited to see it from another
19:26
angle.
19:27
>> So, what what did you decide to leave
19:30
Syracuse and what what why was Carolina
19:33
the right destination for you?
19:35
>> I think just Carolina is just an
19:37
incredible I mean, there's a lot of
19:39
history behind the school and I think I
19:40
came and I met the team. I met the
19:43
coaching the coaching staff and I really
19:44
thought that their values aligned with
19:46
mine and I think they're going to be
19:48
able to take me the places I want to go.
19:50
You know, I still have goals that I'm
19:51
yet to reach. So, I think this is the
19:52
right place for me to be able to reach
19:54
those goals and
19:55
I mean, the culture I think you can see
19:57
just like the way everyone interacts
19:59
around here. The culture is amazing and
20:01
so yeah, I'm really grateful to be here.
20:03
>> And what are those places you hope to to
20:05
reach at Carolina that you couldn't
20:07
reach at Syracuse?
20:08
>> Well, I definitely want to represent
20:09
Australia. That's my ultimate goal to
20:11
play for the Opals.
20:13
Hopefully at the Olympics and then yeah,
20:15
I want to keep playing professionally.
20:16
So, wherever that will take me, I want
20:18
to kind of you know, just keep seeing
20:19
where basketball can take me.
20:20
>> You played internationally for Australia
20:22
before?
20:23
>> Yeah, I played for the under 19 Asia Cup
20:26
and the World Cup in Spain in 2023, I
20:29
think.
20:29
>> Nice.
20:30
How's it been so far from home? How
20:32
often do your parents get to see you?
20:34
>> I don't get to see them a whole lot. I
20:35
was able to surprise them a couple of
20:37
weeks ago, which was really amazing, but
20:39
I see them once or twice a year. So,
20:41
it's definitely tough.
20:42
I mean, obviously being here for a while
20:44
now, so it's definitely more I'm more
20:46
used to it than I was, but
20:48
I think just having such a great support
20:50
system around me with the team with my
20:52
teammates and my coaching staff, you
20:53
know, it makes it a lot easier.
20:55
And you know, we've always I FaceTime my
20:57
mom pretty much every day. So,
20:58
>> Oh, that's nice.
20:59
>> Yeah, still definitely have that
21:00
connection, but you know, would be nice
21:02
to see them a little bit more if I
21:03
could.
21:04
>> Will they be able to come to a game?
21:05
>> Yeah, that's the plan so far.
21:07
Don't know exactly when cuz obviously
21:09
it's a long flight and everything, but
21:10
hopefully towards the end of the season
21:11
I'll be able to see a few games.
21:12
>> Okay, for somebody who has never never
21:14
seen you play, give me a scouting report
21:16
on what you bring to the team, what your
21:18
strengths and weaknesses are,
21:20
how you can impact the game.
21:22
>> Yeah, I mean I I like to think I'm a
21:23
pretty poised player, so I like to kind
21:25
of read the defense, read the floor a
21:27
little bit. I like to get my teammates
21:28
involved. Obviously shoot the
21:30
three-ball.
21:31
Um that's pretty That's where I'm most
21:32
comfortable, but yeah, I think I like to
21:34
impact the game in a bunch of different
21:36
ways, you know, getting offensive
21:37
rebounds, that kind of thing. Just doing
21:38
whatever my team needs from me.
21:40
>> Are you more of a two guard or how would
21:41
you describe yourself?
21:43
>> Um I'm pretty versatile, so I feel like
21:44
anywhere from two to four. Um wherever
21:47
the team needs me, really. Yeah.
21:49
>> So there obviously there are a lot of
21:50
lead guards here on the roster. How has
21:53
that given you guys flexibility in how
21:56
you can how the ball flows offensively?
21:59
>> Yeah, I think I That's one of our team's
22:01
biggest strengths is the depth that we
22:02
have. Um I think that's really important
22:04
because teams can't scout everyone on
22:06
the team. So whether they scout like one
22:09
of the guards and then someone else is
22:10
going to go off, you know, I think we
22:12
have that opportunity to really use both
22:14
sides of the floor. What what Whoever's
22:16
um hands the ball is in, we're we're
22:18
very comfortable with that. So I think
22:19
that's definitely one of the team's
22:20
biggest strengths.
22:21
>> Now they It seems like you're going to
22:23
play faster than you're you're used to
22:24
at Syracuse
22:26
offensively.
22:27
>> Yeah, um I'd say so. I think, you know,
22:29
um
22:30
that's definitely what we've been
22:31
focusing on the last few days in
22:32
practice, you know, being able to really
22:33
spread the floor, get down there quick.
22:35
But again, we have a lot of depth. We
22:37
have a lot of rotation, so I think
22:38
that'll be pretty easy for us.
22:39
>> What's the ceiling of this team? Like
22:41
what Where can they be by the end of the
22:42
season?
22:43
>> Um I think we can go all the way, you
22:45
know, definitely see ourselves like
22:46
going far in the NCAA tournament and the
22:48
ACC tournament. Um I think we definitely
22:50
have the talent. We have the buy-in.
22:52
And yeah, I'm really excited to see what
22:54
happens.
22:57
>> So why did you decide to leave Oklahoma
23:00
State and why was Carolina the place for
23:02
you?
23:03
>> Um, I think I was just looking for a
23:05
different environment, change.
23:08
Um, I wanted to be at a winning program
23:10
where I could
23:12
just help the program get to another
23:14
level, but also compete for a national
23:16
championship. And I think Carolina was
23:18
that place.
23:20
>> And now
23:21
what what about the
23:23
program in addition to that appealed to
23:25
you? The the people, the coaches, the
23:27
university?
23:28
>> Yeah. I think just the place stuff. Um
23:31
The ACC has a lot of fast, lengthy
23:34
guards.
23:35
Um,
23:35
and it's very athletic. Um, and my
23:38
versatility I feel like just fit this
23:40
program and fit Coach Banghart's
23:43
type of play, the play style.
23:45
Um, and also the team. I think we have a
23:47
great group of girls that are able to
23:49
compete for a national championship. Um,
23:52
and yeah.
23:53
>> So so you think this team has the the
23:56
ceiling of making a
23:57
run to the title?
23:58
>> I think so.
24:00
>> So um, for somebody who hasn't seen you
24:02
play, give me a scouting report of what
24:04
you bring to the team, your strengths
24:06
and weaknesses, how you impact the game.
24:09
>> I think I'm a versatile guard, but also
24:13
I can go in the post. I can be a stretch
24:15
four.
24:16
Um,
24:17
I can guard one through five.
24:20
Run in transition.
24:22
Can rebound.
24:24
Yeah.
24:24
>> And then you have good length
24:26
good length too. What what how can that
24:29
help you help the team?
24:31
>> I think like I said, just guarding one
24:32
through five, being able to have the
24:34
speed to guard a guard, but also have
24:37
the length to guard the post and be in
24:39
there and be impactful.
24:41
>> All right. Thank you.
24:42
>> Thank you.
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