A pair of incoming Tar Heels earned prestigious high school accolades earlier this month. Laila Hull and Reniya Kelly were each named the Girls’ Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year in their respective states — Hull in Indiana and Kelly in Alabama.

Kelly (no relation to current UNC guard Deja) is rated as a four-star guard prospect by ESPN and the No. 30 overall player in the Class of 2023. ESPN’s scouting report describes Kelly as a “smooth floor-leader with combo skills,” who “knocks down mid-range jump shots with regularity.” At Hoover High School in Alabama, Kelly has won three state championships and scored more than 2,000 points. She was the first member of the 2023 class to commit to Carolina. For more on Kelly, click here.

Hull is also rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN. The 6-1 forward from Zionsville, IN, was the last addition to the 2023 class, committing to UNC in October. Hull is her high school’s career leader in points and ranks second in rebounds and third in steals. In addition to the Gatorade honor, Hull was named Miss Basketball in the state of Indiana by the Indianapolis Star. She’s the second UNC commit to receive this honor after Stephanie Mavunga did so in 2013. For more on Hull, click here.

Kelly and Hull are part of a star-studded recruiting class for Carolina which includes five-star forward Ciera Toomey and four-star forward RyLee Grays.

 

Featured image via Indianapolis Star/Mykal McEldowney

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