Former Louisville forward Nyla Harris entered the transfer portal in late March and announced her new home with the North Carolina Tar Heels on April 4. And though Harris is "so glad" she "expanded her options" by entering the portal, she didn't hesitate to admit that parts of the process were overwhelming.
While speaking to FanSided, Harris was quick to praise UNC and Coach Banghart, who Harris says "values her worth and knows the type of leadership she brings wherever she goes" — two traits that she really wanted to find in a coach as she heads into her senior year.
Harris also opened up about the entire transfer portal experience, which was simultaneously thrilling and a little terrifying. Here's what she had to say.
The transfer portal can be overwhelming
Harris admitted that she went into the portal without knowing exactly what to expect and was even a little overwhelmed by how many schools quickly expressed strong interest in recruiting her. "I think the one thing that I can tell about a coach now that I've been through the portal experience is whether or not they're genuine," she explained. "I don't even have to be looking at them face-to-face, I can just hear it through your voice."
The portal also makes it easy to "see who really needs you and who really wants you," she added. It was clear that some schools weren't as interested in Nyla Harris the person as much as they were interested in Nyla Harris the hooper. "It's like speed dating," she joked. "You don't really take the time to get to know someone because you only have this little amount of time to be able to build a relationship and possibly visit [a school]."
As much as that part of the experience was intimidating, it also made it easy to recognize what schools and coaches were interested in Harris for who she is — something North Carolina made apparent from the jump.
North Carolina reached out immediately
Harris also said the Tar Heels were the first school to reach out once her name was in the portal, something that meant a lot. UNC had always held a special place for Harris; the school was one of her top 5 choices when she was still in high school, and she'd maintained a relationship with the program in some form or fashion.
Harris said the fact that UNC reached out even though she had turned them down once made her want to connect. "UNC has everything I wanted: a number one journalism school, Coach Bangheart is one of the top 50 leaders in the country ... I think for me, in terms of growing, it's good to have a coach like that because she's actually feeding me leadership qualities and leadership advice," Harris continued.
Joining UNC felt "natural," she added. "I think I had kind of trapped myself in [a box] based on the value that I was giving myself... but now my confidence is coming back, because I know that I bring value to a team. I know I can help a team win."
The 2025-26 season will be "the best basketball I have ever played"
When it comes to her final year, Harris wants the 2025-26 season to be "the best basketball I have ever played," she said. "I'm happy again. I feel free."
Harris paused, and then added, "I'm going to be real: I feel like I'm not in a box anymore... the decision [to go with UNC] is 10 times better and I'll be able to shine on the court." Happiness, she also said, is "the biggest thing" heading into her senior year, and "being surrounded by those who care about me."