Rashanda wears her heart on her sneaks

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They say that to truly know a person, you have to walk in her shoes. But in the case of Rashanda McCants, all you have to do is read them.

And to understand the No. 1 seeded North Carolina women’s basketball team as it prepares for Sunday’s NCAA Tournament opener, you need to know Rashanda McCants.

The junior guard from Asheville sits in the third row of the Carmichael Auditorium bleachers before her post-practice shoot-around. Her shirt sleeves are rolled up, revealing cut biceps. And below her long basketball shorts lies a pair of Nike Elite basketball shoes.

When the oversized kicks left the factory, they were likely clean and white. But that was before Rashanda and her Sharpie got a hold of them. Now, every surface area flat enough to write on is covered by quick reminders, motivational quips and the names of those dear to her.

“These are my inspirations,” Rashanda says, lifting the pair of Nikes off the floor.

“On one shoe is my family’s names, like my mom and my dad, my sister, my niece, a few of my cousins.”

The Tar Heels’ second-team All-ACC and first-team All-ACC Tournament selection then switches the focus to the other shoe.

“And then these are basketball reminders – to rebound, to drive, attack and to stay focused. So I can play 40 minutes and play hard.”

A closer look into those sayings and slogans will reveal the depth of not only one of UNC’s most prominent athletes, but also a personality that is more complex than meets the eye.

‘Mom and Dad’

Scrawled prominently on the side of her left shoe, her parents’ nicknames mark the most obvious symbol of her relationship with her family. And the bond is a close one, her father, James McCants, says.

“We’re very family-oriented people. We always have been close, and we’ve always been with each other,” he says.

The array of names doesn’t stop after those of her parents. A long list of extended family members is scattered across the surface of the left shoe, including one familiar to Tar Heel fans.

‘Rashad’

It’s the job of a big brother to pave the road for his younger siblings, to test the waters and provide an example to live by. And of course, it’s also his job to pick on his little sister. Rashanda’s older brother, Rashad, did all this for her.

Rashad, who led the ACC in scoring one year and helped UNC win a national championship in another, has always been a role model for Rashanda – ever since the days when he made her stand out on the court and rebound shots for him. But it was only a matter of time before her competitive nature emerged.

“I’d catch the balls for him and throw them back, but eventually I got bored and I said, ‘Let’s play.’ Of course, he was bigger and stronger than me, but I went at him.”

While her game evolved, Rashad made a name for himself at UNC and eventually reached the NBA, drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2005. As has always been the case, the little sister has similar aspirations with dreams of the WNBA.

“They’ve always been very competitive when it came to each other,” James says. “She’s a great admirer of Rashad, and she’s emulated him in many ways.”

‘Be kind to yourself’

Like most raw freshmen who come into college with an excess of talent and a lack of discipline, Rashanda faced some struggles – especially as she was trying to establish a reputation other than that of Rashad’s little sister. And at times, she’d beat herself up over it.

But she found solace in UNC assistant coach Charlotte Smith, who taught her the saying that is now written above her toes. With a quick glance down, Rashanda is reminded to stay positive.

Rashanda represents a personality paradox. She calls herself both quiet and outgoing. She is an introvert who gets along great with teammates. She is described as being quiet, but teammate Erlana Larkins teases her for “spazzing out.”

Even her father can’t place it, saying she is not a wild child, but she isn’t as quiet as people would think.

“Her speech – it’s something funny about her,” Larkins quips with a smile. “She can never get her words together, always messing up.”

North Carolina head coach Sylvia Hatchell agreed.

“She sort of, in her own quiet way, does some things that make people laugh,” Hatchell says. “She’s extremely low maintenance, just a good kid that wants to win and works hard. But sometimes she’ll say something like – what?”

Still, all attest to the fact that even though Rashanda can be a little hard on herself, she has no problem being kind to others.

“She’ll give you the shirt off her back if she has to,” James says. “That’s how sweet and loving she can be.”

‘Drive, attack, focus, fingertips’

These reminders, splayed at all angles on Rashanda’s right high top, are strictly basketball-related.

As indecisive as Rashanda is regarding her personality, she seems equally noncommittal as to her specialty on the court.

She’s listed as a guard but doesn’t hesitate to drive inside or block shots. She’s always been one of the taller players, but she developed a perimeter game and shoots the three.

This versatility has translated into a big year. Aside from leading the Tar Heels in scoring with 15.9 points per game, she’s among the top four Tar Heels in assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, minutes, 3-pointers made and free throws made.

Larkins, a senior, says she knew all along Rashanda was capable of putting up astronomical numbers.

“It’s about time,” Larkins says. “I’ve seen Rashanda when we’ve taken five girls to Woollen (Gym) and we’ve run the boys, and she’s just so aggressive. We were just waiting to see when she was just going to break out.”

‘One team, one dream’

Rashanda’s favorite shoeism sums up this year’s mission in all caps. Everything – the history, the attitude, the inspiration – is building toward one purpose, and it will give meaning to Rashanda’s emergence.

As the Tar Heels’ top scoring threat and lockdown perimeter defender, Rashanda will be even more crucial as UNC looks to make a run at a third-straight Final Four and accomplishing her dream – joining her brother in the ranks of North Carolina national champions.