“Huge Boost” UNC Women’s Basketball earns top spot for five-star Class of 2026 prospect

Oliviyah Edwards stands out as a leading talent within the Class of 2026.

Hailing from Tacoma, Washington, she holds the prestigious title of being ranked the 7th best player in her graduating class by ESPN HoopGurlz. Despite garnering considerable recognition in the recruiting scene, Edwards has chosen to concentrate on considering 10 programs as she begins to finalize her recruitment process.

After thoughtful consideration my family and I have come up with my top 10 schools to move forward with recruiting.

Thank you to every coach who has taken the time out to get to know me or watch me play basketball over the last four years. pic.twitter.com/5uSRm2nIQ6

— Oliviyah “Big Oh” Edwards (@EdwardsOliviyah) June 1, 2024

The UNC women’s basketball team remains a contender, being one of four ACC programs still in the running. In a recent social media update, Oliviyah Edwards listed the following schools actively involved in her recruitment:

Duke Florida Florida State LSU North Carolina Notre Dame South Carolina Tennessee USC Washington

Although these athletes will only be high school juniors in the upcoming fall, college programs are already eager to recruit top talents early. Programs like the ones mentioned above are competing to attract Edwards to their respective universities.

Standing at 6-foot-3, the forward could bring significant value to UNC’s women’s basketball program in the future. Under Courtney Banghart’s leadership, UNC has established itself as a top recruiter, making them a strong contender for Edwards’ commitment.

With the options now narrowed down to 10 schools, there is optimism that Oliviyah Edwards may choose Chapel Hill as her destination once her recruitment journey concludes