Asheville basketball star walks on for UNC Lady Tar Heels

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Here’s a story that’s gained little notice locally: a former Asheville High School basketball star has walked on to the UNC Lady Tar Heels team, a Top 10 team again this year.

Nicole Powell is on the official roster for the Lady Tar Heels. Here’s hoping she’ll have a great year. She’ll join another former Asheville High School star, Rashanda McCants, sister of former Tar Heel Rashad McCants, who’s now playing in the NBA. It’s not everyday that a player walks on at a top-notch program.

And here’s a kicker — Nicole will play against her sister in one of the Tar Heels’ first games of the year when the Lady Tar Heels play the Lady Catamounts of Western Carolina University. Lauren Powell plays for WCU.

Here’s a tidbit:

“The University of North Carolina women’s basketball team opens its 2008-09 season on Nov. 14 against Western Carolina in the first round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Tuesday. The Tar Heels will be televised 10 times in the upcoming season, including national TV games against Connecticut on Jan. 19 (ESPN2), at Maryland on Jan. 25 (ESPN2) and against Duke on Feb. 9 (ESPN2) and March 1 (FSN).

“Fans should take note of a location change for this year’s edition of the Tar Heels. With Carmichael Auditorium in the midst of a multi-million dollar renovation project, Carolina will play all of its home games in the Dean Smith Center in 2008-09.”