South Carolina Basketball: Surprise! 5-star enrolling at USC

South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley, as she usually does, has done a great job in the 2024 recruiting class. The Gamecocks have already signed three 5-star players as #2-ranked Joyce Edwards (forward from Camden, South Carolina), dynamic Madisen McDaniel (point guard from Upper Marlboro, Maryland), and elite Adhel Tac (post player from Grand Prairie, Texas) all sent in signed letters of intent back in November.

The class might not be completely done, but even if it is, it is one of the best groups in the country, ranked as high as #2 nationally.

Now, one of those 5-stars is joining the program early.

Adhel Tac, who is missing her senior season after dislocating her kneecap and tearing her MPFL, will enroll at the University of South Carolina this week, according to a report from The State's Payton Titus. The move was something that Coach Staley hinted at back in December, but as no further talks surfaced, many had forgotten about the possibility.

South Carolina basketball fans remember that forward Chloe Kitts, a 5-star signee originally in the class of 2023, enrolled early and joined the team last winter. Kitts played the back half of the season with the Gamecocks and helped prepare herself for the starting role she occupies this year.

Tac is not expected to be well enough to play after her enrollment like Kitts did, but her enrollment will allow her to redshirt while rehabbing with the Gamecocks' medical staff. As she progresses, she can then condition and practice with the team when she becomes physically ready to do so. Following that course of action would mirror what the Gamecocks did with forward Laeticia Amihere as she enrolled early to rehab a torn ACL back in January of 2019.

When healthy, Tac is force down low. She has long arms and good feet, allowing her to score at will against smaller defenders and shut down the paint of the defensive end. Pending her health, she will have the opportunity to play early with the Gamecocks as star post player Kamilla Cardoso will be a 1st round selection in this year's WNBA Draft.