Courtney Banghart added to her Class of 2023 in a big way Monday night, as Carolina earned a commitment from five-star center Ciera Toomey of Pennsylvania. Toomey is rated as a 98/100 overall by ESPN and the third-best player in her class.

At six feet, four inches, Toomey will be tied with forward Alexandra Zelaya for the tallest player on Banghart’s roster when she steps on campus. Competing at Dunmore High School in northeast Pennsylvania, Toomey draw the attention of practically every major women’s college basketball program in the country. She committed to Carolina over offers from Duke, Maryland and Connecticut. Toomey will be the second player in three cycles, along with Teonni Key, to have chosen the Tar Heels over the 11-time champion Huskies.

Toomey is the reigning MaxPreps Pennsylvania Player of the Year, having led Dunmore to a 25-2 record while scoring 18.5 points per game on 67.2 percent shooting. Her presence in Chapel Hill could provide the Tar Heels the elite post player they have desperately needed, as none of Banghart’s starters this past season stand taller than six feet, three inches. Carolina’s lack of depth in the post was exposed in a big way during the team’s Sweet 16 loss to South Carolina in March, as the Gamecocks’ star center Aliyah Boston scored 28 points and grabbed 22 rebounds down low.

Toomey is the second five-star recruit in the Class of 2023 to commit to Banghart and the Tar Heels, joining point guard Reniya Kelly, who is ranked as the No. 11 player in the class.

 

Featured image via The Scranton Times-Tribune

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