Chloe Kitts is emerging as South Carolina women's basketball's next star

When No. 3 South Carolina took on No. 9 Duke Thursday night, one player emerged as a true star for the Gamecocks, and her name is Chloe Kitts. Kitts had a career game against Duke with her third double-double of the season with 21 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals helping the Gamecocks to get their win.

With star center Kamilla Cardoso gone to the WNBA, the Gamecocks were in need of a general in the paint, and Kitts just might be the one to step into that role. While Kitts may not have the size and strength of Cardoso, she does have a bit more finesse and style when it comes to getting her points.

Kitts has been a big scorer for the Gamecocks this season, only scoring less than double-digit points in three games this season: Iowa State, UCLA, and Clemson. In two of those games, South Carolina had them wrapped up early and was able to play reserves, but Kitts just wasn't able to find her groove against UCLA like the rest of the team.

However, to start the season, Kitts put up 19 points in the first two games of the season as well as 14 points and then ten rebounds, getting her first two double-doubles of the season. Kitts has also been great defensively for the Gamecocks with four total blocks this season with two against No. 9 Duke.

This season is Kitts' third with head Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks, and since her freshman year, she has slowly been getting more and more minutes. Last season, Kitts shared the court with Cardoso, where the experienced center probably helped her out.

However, where Cardoso was able to just post up and power her way to the basket, Kitts has shown she can work the ball from the high post to the low post with ease. While she isn't the most talented dribbler, she has great moves to get to the basket, which includes driving hard and taking contact to get to the free-throw line.

While the Gamecocks have a lot of talent on their team, as they are and have been the best team in college basketball for years, Kitts adds a lot to this team. As opponents have begun to put emphasis on keeping Te-Hina Paopao and Tessa Johnson defensively, Kitts has benefitted and shows Staley she can be the next big star for South Carolina.