Stephanie Mavunga transfers to Ohio State, All-ACC center last of heralded UNC class to go
THE Ohio State University ! ?????? #Blessed ???? pic.twitter.com/oXVboYhZao
— Princess StephMav ? (@SMavunga_23) August 1, 2015
Former North Carolina player Stephanie Mavunga, an All-ACC forward, has transferred to Ohio State. Her departure from UNC completed the exit of the entire Tar Heel top-rated 2013 class that included Allisha Gray (South Carolina), Jessica Washington (Kansas) and Diamond DeShields (Tennessee), who left the program after her freshman year. Mavunga was also a member of the silver-medal 2015 U.S. Pan American women’s basketball team.
She will have to sit out a year per NCAA transfer rules. She will have two years of eligibility beginning in 2016-17.
Mavunga joins another transfer at Ohio State, former Duke player Sierra Calhoun on a star-studded team featuring 2015 Big Ten Co-Player of the Year, sophomore guard Kelsey Mitchell.
Official announcement from Ohio State
Ohio State women’s basketball head coach Kevin McGuff announced the signing of transfer center Stephanie Mavunga. Mavunga played the last two seasons at North Carolina.
A 6-3 center from Brownsburg, Ind., Mavunga played in a total of 72 games over the last two years with the Tar Heels and made 69 starts. She averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and notched 27 double-doubles. She was named first team All-ACC as a sophomore in 2014-15 and was also on the Naismith Trophy Watch List.
“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to add Stephanie to our program,” said McGuff. “She is an outstanding young woman who will significantly impact our program both on and off the court. Her talent as a basketball player will also allow us to continue our march to national prominence.”
Mavunga will enroll at Ohio State this fall and redshirt the 2015-16 season while fulfilling transfer requirements. She will have two seasons of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2016-17 season. Mavunga joins fellow transfer Sierra Calhoun, who transferred to Ohio State earlier this summer after playing 13 games this past season at Duke.
A McDonald’s All-American at Brownsburg High School in Indiana, Mavunga averaged 23.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game as a senior and was named Miss Basketball in the state of Indiana. She was part of the top-rated recruiting class in the country in 2013 and she was ranked No. 4 individually by All Star Girl Report. Mavunga then started all but three games as a freshman in 2013-14 and averaged 10.7 points and 8.2 rebounds. She was named a Full Court Freshman All-America honorable mention honoree.
Last season, Mavunga was second on the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game and led the team with 336 rebounds and 90 blocks. She was named first team All-ACC and was a three-time ACC Player of the Week. Mavunga helped lead the Tar Heels to their 17th NCAA Sweet 16 appearance with a career-high 27 points and 14 rebounds against the Buckeyes in the second round in Chapel Hill.
This summer, Mavunga played for Team USA at the Pan American Games in Toronto. She helped Team USA dominate pool play and finished with a 4-1 record as its only loss came to host Canada in the Gold Medal game.
