Diamond DeShields transferring from UNC

[Philsfan]

http://www.heraldsun.com/breakingnew...rring-from-UNC

"Tar Heels coach Sylvia Hatchell said in a statement that she did not “know or understand” why DeShields is leaving. “As most everyone knows, I was out and missed the entire season with leukemia,” Hatchell said. “Thankfully, I’m in complete remission and will be back 100% for next season. It breaks my heart that I will not have the opportunity to coach Diamond and help develop her on and off the court. I love her and wish her well."

[Karl Beem]

Was told she would have to attend real classes next year?

[CameronBornAndBred]

This is actually pretty shocking--De Shields had a very good season and looked to be one of the key pieces for UNC next year. Perhaps there is some personal reason for the decision.

Maybe she had issues with Ivory Latta. As annoying as both of them were, I could only imagine them in the same room.

[MCFinARL]

This is actually pretty shocking--De Shields had a very good season and looked to be one of the key pieces for UNC next year. Perhaps there is some personal reason for the decision.

[flyingdutchdevil]

This is actually pretty shocking--De Shields had a very good season and looked to be one of the key pieces for UNC next year. Perhaps there is some personal reason for the decision.

Or perhaps Sean May and Kennedy Meeks kept on eating her lunch. Without more info, anything is possible! (and I think my explanation is the most plausible)

[Class of '94]

Wow....This seems very strange. I've read comments about Diamond in the past about her having a very big ego; and I can still remember that T she got for her imo unsportsmanlike manner toward Haley and Duke in the ACCT. I wonder if this is decision maybe another example of that. Of course, she has a right to leave UNC and go to a place that she feels better suits her. And I will curious and interested to hear where she decides to go and why.

[grossbus]

Stunning!

[Kedsy]

Wow. An absolute shock. Although I am glad I don't have to watch her play for the bad guys for the next three years.

Now I just hope she doesn't end up at UConn.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Wow. An absolute shock. Although I am glad I don't have to watch her play for the bad guys for the next three years.

Now I just hope she doesn't end up at UConn.

Eek. I wonder how Geno's and Diamond's egos would work out. Whatever her reasoning, it must be a huge conflict to voluntarily sit out a year. Like her not (I don't), she is undoubtedly one of the best players in the nation.
From wiki...

The WNBA "requires players to be at least 22, to have completed their college eligibility, to have graduated from a four-year college or to be four years removed from high school."

So I guess she can declare for the draft after her junior year since she will be four years out of high school, but it would surprise me, that is uncommon. (Maybe so uncommon it hasn't happened? I know there was talk of Griner leaving early, but she stayed at Baylor.)

[Class of '94]

Wow. An absolute shock. Although I am glad I don't have to watch her play for the bad guys for the next three years.

Now I just hope she doesn't end up at UConn.

It's funny that you mentioned UConn. I'm wondering if she felt that UNC wasn't good enough for her and she wants to go to a program like UConn where she feels that she might have a better chance to win a NC and gain more national exposure.

[CameronBornAndBred]

It's funny that you mentioned UConn. I'm wondering if she felt that UNC wasn't good enough for her and she wants to go to a program like UConn where she feels that she might have a better chance to win a NC and gain more national exposure.

She came in with the #1 team in the nation, and they were only a game away from the FF this year. Would be odd reasoning to go sit on someone's bench a year.

[Here is a Turtle]

Hope she goes to any school other than UConn. This is shocking. Wonder what her thought process was.

[jimsumner]

Wow. This is a stunner. She was national freshman of the year and Carolina projected a top-5, maybe higher, next season. Something or someone must have really set her off.

[MCFinARL]

Maybe she had issues with Ivory Latta. As annoying as both of them were, I could only imagine them in the same room.

Wow--in another miracle of DBR, you responded to my post before I made it! You actually make a very good point here--De Shields is a bit reminiscent of Latta in her general scariness, and the two might have been a pretty combustible combination.

Or perhaps Sean May and Kennedy Meeks kept on eating her lunch. Without more info, anything is possible! (and I think my explanation is the most plausible)

Your explanation is certainly the most entertaining--and you picked two people who are big enough, if possibly not tough enough, to steal De Shields' lunch.

Re UConn, Geno offers some very tough love, and he demands compliance--from what we have seen from the outside, De Shields might not be a very good fit. But who knows?

[killerleft]

As good and as unlikeable as she is, I'm just happy to see her go. I will always treasure Duke's win over the Heels in the ACC Tournament this year. At least that loss wiped the smirk off her face for a while.

[jipops]

[budwom]

Her father was one of my favorite glorious Montreal Expos. She brought shame to her family by playing for UNC. Now I feel much better.

[Philsfan]

Her father was one of my favorite glorious Montreal Expos. She brought shame to her family by playing for UNC. Now I feel much better.

Delino attended a riival high school. Got to see him play against us in basketball his Senior year. He lit us up.

[burnspbesq]

I just hope she doesn't end up at UConn.

Whatever else one may not like about UConn, Geno has always run a team-first program. Hard to imagine him as enabler for an outsize ego.

Baylor, on the other hand ...

[brevity]

Whatever else one may not like about UConn, Geno has always run a team-first program. Hard to imagine him as enabler for an outsize ego.

Diana Taurasi?

Gotta give Diamond DeShields credit here. She just became the most interesting transfer in men's or women's college basketball. I'm just speculating here, but going to South Carolina -- which just got top recruit A'ja Wilson -- would be a slap in the face to Tarheels and would signal a real shift in power.