Courtney Banghart and North Carolina are still making life tough for everyone else on the recruiting trail.
The Tar Heels have been aggressive in their pursuit of elite talent, and one of the names squarely on their board is Quadace Samuels, the No. 11-ranked player in the Class of 2027 according to SportsCenter NEXT 100. The 6-foot-2 guard from Maryland has drawn plenty of attention, but her list is now trimmed to a top 10, and UNC is in the group.
This weekend, Samuels told Dushawn London of 247Sports that she is focusing her recruitment on 10 programs. North Carolina is one of four ACC schools still in the mix.
Samuels’ top 10 includes:
Alabama
LSU
North Carolina
NC State
Rutgers
Tennessee
Texas
Vanderbilt
Virginia
Virginia Tech
NEWS: Qandace Samuels, a five-star guard in the class of 2027, is down to 10 schools, @247Sports is told. pic.twitter.com/T8u8zq4l1F
- Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) August 16, 2026
Samuels brings a physical, versatile game. She uses her size and strength to get past forwards, can run an offense, and has the kind of outside shooting touch that should translate well at the next level.
UNC’s biggest challenge in this one may come from Raleigh. Samuels’ older sister, Qadence Samuels, is at NC State and is entering her senior season. Under the new NCAA eligibility rules, there’s a chance she could remain in Raleigh for another year, which would create the possibility of the sisters teaming up.
Even with that obstacle, Banghart and her staff are expected to keep pushing hard for Samuels and selling Chapel Hill as the right fit. North Carolina has been active in several battles for top 2027 prospects, and the program’s recent momentum gives it real credibility on the trail.
The Tar Heels have been climbing since Banghart took over, and recruiting has become one of the biggest reasons why. The next step on the court is still a hurdle, with the Sweet 16 standing as the current benchmark, but the talent pipeline has been strong.
Kate Harpring was the headliner in UNC’s last recruiting cycle. The next question is who joins her in Chapel Hill.
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