South Carolina Basketball: Two Gamecock signees named McDonald's All-American nominees

South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley has one of the best recruiting classes in the country coming to Columbia this cycle.

Three 5-stars (forward Joyce Edwards, guard Maddy McDaniel, and post player Adhel Tac) make up the class, and there is a chance Coach Staley adds another player. Tac, who is injured, has already enrolled at the University of South Carolina and is finishing her rehab with the team.

Two of those 5-stars were named McDonald's All-American nominees. Joyce Edwards and Maddy McDaniel are those nominees, and the two players have a good chance to be selected for the game.

Edwards is a lock for the game as she is ranked as the #2 player in the country. McDaniel should get in, as well, as she was ranked as high as a top-10 player in the recruiting class at one point.

Last season, the Gamecocks brought in two McDonald's All-Americans as MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson made the game. They were the 21st and 22nd all-time McDonald's All-Americans to sign with the South Carolina basketball program. They likely would have had another, but Chloe Kitts enrolled early and joined the Gamecocks at midseason.

Ashlyn Watkins was a McDonald's All-American in 2022. Raven Johnson, Sania Feagin, and Bree Hall all were selected in 2021. Three former transfers (Sakima Walker, Te-Hina Paopao, and Kamilla Cardoso) made the game in 2020 before heading to Rutgers, Oregon, and Syracuse, respectively.

If Edwards and McDaniel are chosen as McDonald's All-Americans (teams will be selected officially later in January), they will become the 23rd and 24th Gamecock signees ever to be selected for the highest high school All-American game. Dawn Staley has coached almost all of them.

Edwards was also named to the Jr. NBA Court of Leaders Girl's McDonald's All-American nominee list for her excellence on the court and off of it.