Carolina Day transfer Lani Woods signs with Division I program
WEAVERVILLE - Joe Carrington watched from inside the North Buncombe library Wednesday morning as another former player signed a Division I basketball scholarship.
It has been more than a year since he was fired as Carolina Day's basketball coach despite winning eight consecutive NCISAA state championships. The school did not renew his contract, stating it wanted to make a hire that "more closely align the girl's basketball program with our school's core beliefs."
He has since sued the school for breach of contract - the case was later dismissed - and Carolina Day canceled the 2018-19 season after several players transferred from the school, including Lani Woods, who signed with UNC Asheville on Nov. 13. Carolina Day announced earlier this year that it would play basketball only at the junior varsity level in 2019-20.
Woods was the most recent Carolina Day transfer to sign with a college program. Amber Redmond, who left for Asheville High, signed with UNC Greensboro last year, and Nautica Smiley, who transferred to Erwin, signed with William Peace in April. Annabelle Schultz, now a senior at Erwin, will sign with Wofford on Nov. 15.
"It was a hard thing for all of us to go through," Woods said. "But I'm really excited to get back to playing high school basketball and being with my new teammates. At the end of the day, I'm happy with where I am."
Carrington said he hopes to coach high school basketball in the near future. He is still the coach of the Lady Royals select travel team.
"I'm kind of in limbo right now," Carrington said. "I hate to be vague, but that's really where I am right now. I miss this time of year and the relationships. If something opens up, I'm ready."
For Woods, the situation at Carolina Day cost her a junior season. She transferred from Pisgah to Carolina Day in the summer of 2018 to play for Carrington — her select travel basketball coach — and to save a year of eligibility after suffering a knee injury.
When the program collapsed, she transferred to North Buncombe, but was denied eligibility after the North Carolina High School Athletic Association ruled the transfer was for athletic reasons.
"This whole process was really hard for her," said her mother, Jill Woods. "But we ended up in the perfect place and she stayed with it and worked hard to get back and be able to play."
Woods was not allowed to practice with the North Buncombe team last season or even sit on the bench during games. She watched from the bleachers as she rehabbed her knee.
"It was really hard to have to sit back and watch," Woods said.
Woods said she was offered by UNC Asheville this summer after playing in a tournament with the Lady Royals. She chose UNCA over several offers, including Wofford.
"I love UNCA and how I feel when I get there. It feels like home. Like family," Woods said. "I'm just excited to be playing basketball again."
WEAVERVILLE - Joe Carrington watched from inside the North Buncombe library Wednesday morning as another former player signed a Division I basketball scholarship.
It has been more than a year since he was fired as Carolina Day's basketball coach despite winning eight consecutive NCISAA state championships. The school did not renew his contract, stating it wanted to make a hire that "more closely align the girl's basketball program with our school's core beliefs."
He has since sued the school for breach of contract - the case was later dismissed - and Carolina Day canceled the 2018-19 season after several players transferred from the school, including Lani Woods, who signed with UNC Asheville on Nov. 13. Carolina Day announced earlier this year that it would play basketball only at the junior varsity level in 2019-20.
Woods was the most recent Carolina Day transfer to sign with a college program. Amber Redmond, who left for Asheville High, signed with UNC Greensboro last year, and Nautica Smiley, who transferred to Erwin, signed with William Peace in April. Annabelle Schultz, now a senior at Erwin, will sign with Wofford on Nov. 15.
"It was a hard thing for all of us to go through," Woods said. "But I'm really excited to get back to playing high school basketball and being with my new teammates. At the end of the day, I'm happy with where I am."
Carrington said he hopes to coach high school basketball in the near future. He is still the coach of the Lady Royals select travel team.
"I'm kind of in limbo right now," Carrington said. "I hate to be vague, but that's really where I am right now. I miss this time of year and the relationships. If something opens up, I'm ready."
For Woods, the situation at Carolina Day cost her a junior season. She transferred from Pisgah to Carolina Day in the summer of 2018 to play for Carrington — her select travel basketball coach — and to save a year of eligibility after suffering a knee injury.
When the program collapsed, she transferred to North Buncombe, but was denied eligibility after the North Carolina High School Athletic Association ruled the transfer was for athletic reasons.
"This whole process was really hard for her," said her mother, Jill Woods. "But we ended up in the perfect place and she stayed with it and worked hard to get back and be able to play."
Woods was not allowed to practice with the North Buncombe team last season or even sit on the bench during games. She watched from the bleachers as she rehabbed her knee.
"It was really hard to have to sit back and watch," Woods said.
Woods said she was offered by UNC Asheville this summer after playing in a tournament with the Lady Royals. She chose UNCA over several offers, including Wofford.
"I love UNCA and how I feel when I get there. It feels like home. Like family," Woods said. "I'm just excited to be playing basketball again."
