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UPDATE: Allisha Gray is headed to South Carolina. According to the Daily Tar Heel her reasons for leaving are related to the scandal and fear for how she will be perceived if her name is attached to UNC any longer.
This is the punishment before the punishment portion of the program.
-original article starts here-
In what can only be characterized as a massive blow to the UNC women's basketball program, sophomore guard and leading scorer Allisha Gray has decided to transfer according to Dan Olson of ESPNW.
Alisha Gray (5-10 SG Soph) released at North Carolina; 2 years left; contact Matt Huddleston (404-502-1752). @CGBR27 @espnW
— Dan Olson (@CGBR27) June 16, 2015
Gray led UNC in scoring last season with 15.8 ppg and was the team's second leading rebounder at 7.6 rpg.
Last month, UNC announced fellow sophomore Jessica Washington was leaving the program. The loss of both Washington and Gray along with last year's transfer of Diamond DeShields guts what was once an elite 2013 recruiting class.
Of the heralded class UNC signed in 2013, only Stephanie Mavunga remains. Jessica Washington, Diamond DeShields and now Allisha Gray, gone.
— Sherrell McMillan (@rellevent21) June 16, 2015
In addition to the loss of two players, former Tar Heel player and assistant coach Ivory Latta announced she was leaving to focus on her playing career.
When the NCAA's allegations against UNC were made public, it was clear women's basketball will probably be taken behind the proverbial woodshed. Jan Boxill, who served as a member of the faculty and was heavily involved in academic support for the women's basketball program, was implicated as acting improperly. The depth of Boxill's involvement made it likely women's basketball would most certainly be hit with direct sanctions, possibly as early as 2016.
All that being said, there is no confirmation the recent departures of two players and a coach are related to the NOA. Washington's announcement came before the NOA was even received by UNC. Latta's announcement came a week later and while it might be related, Latta probably does want to make some money playing while she still can. As for Gray, it certainly feels NOA related but there is no confirmation of that and at some point perhaps she will shed some light on her decision to leave Chapel Hill.