Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina first-year head women’s basketball coach Jonathan Tsipis is bringing in a fresh crop of Catamounts for the 2024-25 season with four newcomers including two transfers and a pair of incoming freshmen to the program. His inaugural class includes a pair of guards in veteran Georgia Tech graduate transfer Avyonce “AC” Carter and Taj Hunter, who is Tsipis’ first signee at WCU. They are joined by Gardner-Webb transfer center Grace Pack and Concord, N.C. native Kennedy Hilsenroth, a 6-1 post who played at Northwest Cabarrus High.
Avyonce “AC” Carter
5-10 – Guard – Graduate Transfer
Norcross, Ga. (Georgia Tech / Wesleyan School)
· Appeared in 91 games during her four-year career at Georgia Tech, tallying 903 minutes of game action with 246 career points
· Recorded a career-high 14 points with six rebounds and two steals vs. Furman in 2021
· Attended Wesleyan School where she was a team captain in both her junior and senior years
· Helped push the team to back-to-back state titles in 2017 and 2018, finishing second in 2019
· Named the 2020 Region 5-A Player of the Year and the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Class 1A North Player of the Year
· Was a USA Today first-team selection in Georgia in 2019
· Majored in Business Administration at Georgia Tech
What Coach Tsip has to say:
“We are ecstatic that AC and her family are joining our Western Carolina women’s basketball program. AC brings four years of ACC experience from Georgia Tech and is a great fit to our program. She is a diverse scorer who uses her strong frame to score both inside and out. She will be able to play multiple positions for us and allow us to be versatile defensively. Her work ethic and maturity will help our entire team grow on and off the floor.”
Kennedy Hilsenroth
6-1 – Power Forward / Center – Freshman
Concord, N.C. (Northwest Cabarrus HS)
· Played in 82 games in high school, averaging 9.8 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game in her career
· Poster career-high averages in defensive rebounds (5.7), assists (1.2), and steals (2.5) her senior season
· Shot 50% in her career, including a 52% shooting season in her junior year on 225 attempts
What Coach Tsip has to say:
“Kennedy joins us as a strong post player who had a standout career at Northwest Cabarrus High School in Concord, NC. She has a soft touch inside and has extended her shooting range to the 3-point line. Defensively, she will help us rebound the ball on both ends of the floor. We are excited to welcome Kennedy and her family to the Western Carolina women’s basketball family as our first North Carolina commitment.”
Taj Hunter
5-8 – Guard – Freshman
Loganville, Ga. (Grayson HS)
- Averaged 10.4 pts, 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.8 assists her senior year at Grayson High
- Helped lead the Rams to a 7A State championship with a 32-1 record
- The team finished the season #7 in national ESPN HS rankings and #6 in MaxPreps national rankings
What Coach Tsip has to say:
“We are excited to welcome Taj Hunter and her family to the Western Carolina women’s basketball family. Taj is a winner! She played a key role on the Georgia 7A state championship Grayson High School Lady Rams. She is a tenacious defender who consistently shut down the top perimeter player on the opposing team. Offensively, she is a skilled 3-point shooter who also is an unselfish passer. Taj brings a great work ethic and championship mentality to Catamount Nation.”
Grace Pack
6-2 – Center – Junior
Midlothian, Va. (Gardner-Webb / TPLS Christian Academy)
- Appeared in 48 games for the Runnin’ Bulldogs from 2022-24, highlighted by a 570-minute sophomore season in Boiling Springs
- Averaged 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds over 19.7 minutes per game during her sophomore season
- Played for TPLS Christian Academy as a prep where she was ranked firsdt among all power forwards and third overall in Virginia by Prep Hoop
- Nominated for the McDonald’s All-American game
- A first-team NSCAA All-American selection
- Played in the 804 All-Star game her senior year
What Coach Tsip has to say:
“We are very fortunate to add Grace Pack and her family to our Catamount women’s basketball family. Grace brings two years of college experience as a versatile post player from in-state program Gardner-Webb. She is an excellent shooter who will stretch the floor from the 3-point line. Defensively, she brings a toughness to our team with her rebounding and ability to protect the rim. She is constantly in the gym working on her game and will help our younger players make the adjustment to college basketball.”
The foursome of Carter, Hilsenroth, Hunter, and Pack join a talented and experienced Catamount squad with six upper-classmen and 2023-24 SoCon All-Freshman team selection Tyja Beans each returning.
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