By SHELDON LONGLEY, NG Sports Editor, slongley@nasguard.com

Another top basketball prospect from The Bahamas is being courted by a major National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I program in the United States, and for the first time in a long time, it's a female.

Waltia Rolle, a towering 6'6" junior center, still has a year remaining at Westbury Christian High School in Houston, Texas, but according to reports, she already knows where she will be playing her collegiate ball. University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels' Head Coach Sylvia Hatchell confirmed yesterday that the rising star has been offered a scholarship, and from all indication, she is looking forward to the experience. Waltia, who struggled on and off the court when she first went to Houston four years ago, couldn't be reached for comment yesterday, but her father Maxwell Rolle confirmed that his daughter has made a verbal commitment to attend UNC.

Hatchell was limited in her response regarding their evaluation of Rolle, but added that the rapidly improving star who averages 18.2 points and 15.3 rebounds per game for the Westbury Christian Wildcats, would be a welcomed addition to their program. The Tar Heels, who finished up at 33-3 last season, came within six points of advancing to their third straight Final Four.

"She is a tremendous all-around player, so it certainly came as no surprise when North Carolina expressed interest in her," said Waltia's father Maxwell Rolle yesterday. "She works the post well, dribbles well for a center, and plays exceptional defense. They (UNC) want her... there is no doubt about that. A lot of colleges are interested in Waltia, but she wants to go to North Carolina."

Rolle was a first team All-District player in 2007, and first team All-State this past season. According to ESPN Insider, she is the fifth ranked female high school 2009 prospect at center in the country. She also plays for the club team, CyFair Houstonians, out of Houston.

"She has great potential and we are all excited," said Maxwell Rolle. "Like I said, a lot of colleges are after her but everyone know that that North Carolina is a top ranked Division I school and it is centrally located. She could get on a flight and come to The Bahamas anytime. For North Carolina to be interested in her, shows what kind of potential she has and what kind of impression she had on them. She definitely has the ability to play professional basketball but it is a gradual process, so she is content on taking it one step at a time. Her focus right now is getting her degree through basketball, and then after that, hopefully pursuing a professional career in basketball."

Rolle, who came up under Patty Johnson at H.O. Nash and Ken Lightbourne at C.R. Walker right here in New Providence, got her American career started through the Frank Rutherford Elite Development Program in Houston. She started off playing volleyball here in The Bahamas, and it wasn't until she moved to the U.S., when she really learned the fundamentals of the game of basketball.

"She has been a gem for Westbury Christian High in Houston," said Maxwell Rolle. "Her grades are up, and there she takes basketball very serious. She knows that basketball could help her get her education so she constantly works on her game, always trying to get better," he added.