What Oliviyah Edwards’ commitment means for South Carolina women’s basketball
For the second yr in a row, South Carolina obtained a significant spring shock. Oliviyah Edwardswho’s ranked second total by ESPN and fifth total by Rivals/On3, dedicated to the Gamecocks. What does his addition imply for the Gamecocks?
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Every summer season, folks (particularly Gamecock followers) rue the top of the South Carolina dynasty as a result of the Gamecocks have not signed anybody but, complaining that Dawn Staley has forgotten how you can 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 Maker joined the nest within the spring. Maker vaulted the category into the highest 5, and she or he 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 claimed that South Carolina will not 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 positive it would not 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 canceled the journeys to LSU and South Carolina.
When the underside fell out in Tennessee, 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 at all times been there, South Carolina, that received out.
All about match
To be honest, Edwards was an amazing 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 would even have leaned into Edwards’ worst developments. I’ve watched Edwards in individual and was blown away by his athleticism and uncooked talent. I used to be additionally disillusioned by his tendency to play between the three-point strains.
With a training workers that can coach her arduous, Edwards may undoubtedly be the most effective participant within the class. But if she is allowed to coast, or resists teaching, she may very well be simply one other common participant (suppose Zee Spearman or Janiah Barker)
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How does she match?
Whether it’s on goal 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 most likely argue that she will play the wing as effectively. She joins Chloe Kitts (three or 4), Agot Maker (one by means of 4), Jerzy Robinson (one by means of three), Joyce Edwards (three by means of 5), and Alicia Tourneize (all of them?) as gamers who can play a number of positions in a pinch.
It shall be powerful for Staley and the teaching workers to determine how you can finest make the most of everybody, however nearly each different teaching workers would kill you 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 group 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 some extent guard. But they have already got extra gamers than they will really play. Plus, with extra gamers trying to roll midseason, they should hold a spot open.
