To the surprise of absolutely no one, South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley appears set to bring in a class of 2024 recruiting group that has a chance to be ranked #1 in all of college basketball.
The Gamecocks already have received a public commitment from 5-star guard Madisen McDaniel and one from borderline 5-star post player Adhel Tac and sit with the 5th-best class in the nation.
This past weekend, the nation’s #2-ranked prospect, Camden’s Joyce Edwards, was in Columbia again for a visit. The local talent has been long-viewed as a USC lean (though, LSU coach Kim Mulkey has tried her darnedest to convince Edwards to leave the state and head to Louisiana), and she would be a perfect fit on the South Carolina basketball roster.
Dawn Staley has loved versatile forwards during her time in Columbia. Players who can play on the wing and in the post have thrived in her system, and it hasn’t just been one archetype that has seen success with Staley.
Multi-positional players like A’ja Wilson, Laeticia Amihere, and Kaela Davis have had excellent college careers and gone on to become 1st-round WNBA Draft selections. Current Gamecock Chloe Kitts fits that mold, as well, and she is expected to have a strong sophomore year in Columbia.
Joyce Edwards could be next.
After making another visit to see the hometown Gamecocks this past weekend, Edwards is expected to make her college choice soon. According to Lou Bezjak of The State, she is close to wrapping up her recruitment and that she plans on deciding soon. The announcement could be during the early signing period, which runs through the second week of November (the 8th-15th).
If Camden High School’s young star does choose to don garnet and black at the next level, South Carolina basketball will have two five-stars in the boat in Edwards and McDaniel, an almost 5-star in Tac, and top-10 national prospect Kennedy Smith waiting in the wings.
Not to put too much pressure on kids still in high school, but if Staley can bring all those birdies in to roost, a class like that could be the next “Freshies.”
The 2019 South Carolina basketball class is considered one of the most accomplished single classes in SEC history. Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Laeticia Amihere, Brea Beal, and Olivia Thompson combined for just three SEC losses in their four years in Columbia.
Adding Joyce Edwards to the ’24 haul for Dawn Staley could mean the Gamecocks are ready to retake their throne on top of the college basketball world.