South Carolina Basketball: Incoming Gamecock officially makes Team USA
By Kevin Miller
Gamecock basketball signee Joyce Edwards will arrive on campus as one of the most decorated high school players ever to join the South Carolina basketball program.
The soon-to-be graduate of Camden High School in the Midlands of South Carolina has been named to virtually every All-American squad possible, has won three separate National Player of the Year honors, has won the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year award twice, and won back-to-back state titles.
Since finishing her high school season this March, she has been a fixture on the all-star circuit, and after playing in the McDonald's All-American Game, the Jordan Brand Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit. She was named the MVP of each one of those all-star showcases, and over the weekend, she received a new honor on the national level.
After being invited to participate in training camp with Team USA's U18 squad, Edwards officially made the team as one of just 12 players on the roster for this summer's AmeriCup.
The rest of the team is rounded out by Sienna Betts, Jasmine Davidson, Madison Francis, Kayleigh Heckel, ZaKiyah Johnson, Jordan Lee, Leah Macy, Alivia McGill, Arianna Roberson, Kennedy Smith, and Sarah Strong. The AmeriCup will take place in the South American nation of Colombia.
This will not be Edwards' first rodeo with Team USA. She was the youngest player on the Team USA U19 unit that won the World Cup in 2023. Despite her youth, she also made the All-Tournament team as one of the top performers in Spain.
Fellow 5-star class of 2024 signee Maddy McDaniel was also invited to participate in the Team USA training camp. McDaniel, though, has been rehabbing a knee injury in recent months and did not make the team.
The recruiting class of Edwards, McDaniel, and 5-star post player Adhel Tac (who has already enrolled at the University of South Carolina) finished the cycle as the 3rd-best class in all of women's college basketball.