Paint anchor with elite rebounding and shot-blocking instincts
Maria Gakdeng is a proven F/C who brings **efficient interior scoring, elite rebounding, and real rim protection** to North Carolina, highlighted by a 2024-25 season in which she led UNC in scoring at 11.3 points per game and added 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. She is especially valuable because she can control the paint without needing the ball run for her, and she has shown big-game impact in postseason play. Her fit is strongest for teams needing a physical, high-motor interior presence rather than perimeter creation.
