The Teenagers: How 18-Year-Olds Nyla Brooks and Lanie Grant Are Igniting UNC Women’s Basketball
The Teenagers: How 18-Year-Olds Nyla Brooks and Lanie Grant Are Igniting UNC Women’s Basketball
By Gary Bell – Major Movez Media
The University of North Carolina entered the 2025-26 season with questions about scoring depth, perimeter consistency, and defensive versatility. What nobody questioned, however, was the strength of their freshman/sophomore class.
Two 18-year-olds — Nyla Brooks and Lanie Grant — have arrived in Chapel Hill not just ready to contribute, but ready to change the team’s on-court identity. Through the first stretch of the season, the Tar Heels’ youth movement hasn’t just made noise… it’s made a statement.
Nyla Brooks and Lanie Grant are the center of a youth movement in Chapel Hill, NC.
Nyla Brooks: The Two-Way Problem Every Opponent Has to Solve
At 6’1 with guard skills and the mentality of a veteran, Nyla Brooks has quickly become one of UNC’s most impactful players. Brooks’ defensive versatility jumps off the screen — she switches onto guards, wings, and forwards with ease. Her instincts are advanced well beyond her age.
Brooks' physicality, motor, and ability to attack downhill immediately filled the void left by departed upperclassmen. What has surprised even UNC staff is her poise: she plays like someone who’s already been in the ACC for years.
But it’s her confidence that has truly elevated her game.
She’s knocking down threes, creating off the bounce, crashing the glass, and emerging as a reliable scoring option off the bench. Brooks’ presence is anchoring UNC’s second unit, giving Courtney Banghart the ability to extend rotations without losing defensive intensity or scoring punch.
UNC insiders say Brooks “hasn’t wasted a single day” since arriving in Chapel Hill — and it shows.
Lanie Grant: The High-IQ Playmaker and Hidden Gem of the Freshman Class
While Brooks brings length and physicality, Lanie Grant brings composure, vision, and a steady hand that UNC desperately needed.
Grant’s IQ is her superpower. She rarely forces shots, moves the ball with purpose, and has already demonstrated advanced feel as a connector in UNC’s offense. Her decision-making has allowed the Tar Heels to maintain spacing, push the tempo, and play with better flow.
But make no mistake — Grant can score.
She’s hit perimeter shots, finished tough looks, and shown flashes of creativity off the dribble. Her willingness to defend, take charges, and make hustle plays adds layers to UNC’s backcourt.
What stands out most: she plays fearless basketball.
Whether it’s a top-25 opponent or a rivalry environment, Grant shows zero hesitation. That mentality has earned her early trust from teammates and coaches alike.
A Young Duo Changing the Standard
Most programs hope for one sophomore or freshman to break into the rotation early.
UNC found two difference-makers.
Together, Brooks and Grant give the Tar Heels:
✔️ Bench scoring
✔️ Defensive grit
✔️ Positional versatility
✔️ Reliable playmaking
✔️ High-level energy
✔️ A foundation for the future
Both are just 18 years old, but their games say otherwise. They bring maturity, discipline, and a competitive fire that elevates UNC’s entire roster.
With a sophomore and freshman contributing major minutes already, the Tar Heels have the kind of depth that wins games in February… and wins rounds in March.
The Future of UNC WBB Is Here — and It’s Fearless
Brooks and Grant aren’t just “promising underclassmen.” They are impact players, right now.
Their emergence has changed the rotation, the pace, the defensive identity, and the ceiling of this UNC team. And the best part for Tar Heel fans?
They’re only getting started.
The ACC has officially been put on notice:
Chapel Hill’s future arrived early — and they’re already making major movez.
