For the second 12 months in a row, South Carolina received a significant spring shock. Oliviyah Edwards, who’s ranked second total by ESPN and fifth total by Rivals/On3, dedicated to the Gamecocks. What does her addition imply for the Gamecocks?
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Every summer season, individuals (particularly Gamecock followers) rue the top of the South Carolina dynasty as a result of the Gamecocks haven’t signed anybody but, complaining that Dawn Staley has forgotten easy methods to recruit. And yearly, the Gamecocks end with a top-five class.
In the 2025 cycle, South Carolina solely had one participant signed, Ayla McDowell, till Agot Makeer joined the nest within the spring. Makeer vaulted the category into the highest 5, and he or she appears like a program cornerstone.
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South Carolina’s class was ranked fourth earlier than Edwards dedicated, and already had one other program cornerstone in guard Jerzy Robinson. Now, South Carolina may have a second program cornerstone and the top-ranked class. Not too shabby.
Staley has quipped that South Carolina gained’t overpay for recruits as a result of “they’re cheaper the next time around.” She was referring to transfers, nevertheless it applies to Edwards, too, and South Carolina makes certain it doesn’t burn bridges.
Edwards even mentioned, “Sometimes it takes twice to get it right,” when she introduced her commitment on social media.
In the autumn, Edwards scheduled visits with Tennessee, LSU, and South Carolina. Reportedly, Tennessee gave her a signing bonus to commit on her go to to Knoxville and cancel the journeys to LSU and South Carolina.
When the underside fell out at Tennesse, and the assistant coaches who recruited Edwards left for different jobs, Edwards requested for her launch. She additionally thought-about Louisville, Texas, and Washington this time round, nevertheless it was this system that had all the time been there, South Carolina, that gained out.
All about match
To be honest, Edwards was an important match for Kim Caldwell’s system at Tennessee: an unbelievable athlete who can run the ground, shoot threes, and play robust within the paint.
But Tennessee additionally would have leaned into Edwards’ worst tendencies. I’ve watched Edwards in individual and was blown away by her athleticism and uncooked ability. I used to be additionally dissatisfied by her tendency to play between the three-point strains.
With a training workers that can coach her laborious, Edwards may undoubtedly be one of the best participant within the class. But if she is allowed to coast, or resists teaching, she might be simply one other common participant (assume Zee Spearman or Janiah Barker)
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How does she match?
Whether it’s on function or simply the state of basketball, South Carolina has more and more leaned into positionless basketball. Edwards suits that development.
Edwards can play the 4 or 5, and would in all probability argue that she will play the wing as effectively. She joins Chloe Kitts (three or 4), Agot Makeer (one by way of 4), Jerzy Robinson (one by way of three), Joyce Edwards (three by way of 5), and Alicia Tourneize (all of them?) as gamers who can play a number of positions in a pinch.
It might be robust for Staley and the teaching workers to determine easy methods to greatest make the most of everybody, however nearly each different teaching workers would kill to have that downside.
Is South Carolina completed?
With Edwards becoming a member of Jordan Lee as spring additions, South Carolina might be completed including gamers. Assuming Ashlyn Watkins rejoins the staff as anticipated, South Carolina could have 14 gamers on subsequent season’s roster.
Technically, the Gamecocks may add one other participant, and ideally they’d have added a degree guard. But they have already got extra gamers than can truly play. Plus, with extra gamers trying to enroll midseason, they should hold a spot open.
