Gamecocks 2021

[Sched234]

on the eve of her bid for another state title, Raven Johnson is the HS Naismith Award winner.

Can someone who has seen more of Johnson (or really any of the incoming class) share their thoughts and how we expect them to impact the roster next year? To me, this group arguably looks more complete than the 2019-20 freshmen.

SC very much has a chance to win a title this year, but it feels like somewhat of an outside shot. I’m not confident we can score enough. The next two years of overlap between two great recruiting classes should, in my opinion, lead to a title. But the ball bounces in a funny way sometimes.

 

[SCspur]

Can someone who has seen more of Johnson (or really any of the incoming class) share their thoughts and how we expect them to impact the roster next year? To me, this group arguably looks more complete than the 2019-20 freshmen.

SC very much has a chance to win a title this year, but it feels like somewhat of an outside shot. I’m not confident we can score enough. The next two years of overlap between two great recruiting classes should, in my opinion, lead to a title. But the ball bounces in a funny way sometimes.

Ive seen Rivers, Johnson, and Feagin in person on multiple occasions. I’ve only seen Hall once and person and I watched her last two previous playoff games. They’re all legit. I think they will all come in and fill the holes this years team has. A legit back up PG, Another shot creator and scorer from the perimeter, A versatile Forward that’s equally good both ways, and a long athletic playmaker both defensively and offensively. If they plug into their roles like the ‘19 class did then they’ll be a scary team to face.

 

[Sched234]

Ive seen Rivers, Johnson, and Feagin in person on multiple occasions. I’ve only seen Hall once and person and I watched her last two previous playoff games. They’re all legit. I think they will all come in and fill the holes this years team has. A legit back up PG, Another shot creator and scorer from the perimeter, A versatile Forward that’s equally good both ways, and a long athletic playmaker both defensively and offensively. If they plug into their roles like the ‘19 class did then they’ll be a scary team to face.

Thanks! I like Henderson at PG, but do you think there’s any chance Johnson sends her to the bench?

 

[SCspur]

Thanks! I like Henderson at PG, but do you think there’s any chance Johnson sends her to the bench?

Hard for me to see Henny as a senior losing her spot especially after the year she’s having. I see Raven as a backup year one. She’ll be like Henny was in her sophomore year coming off the bench with little drop off at the position.

 

[ConwayGmck]

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I'm glad Stack has an offer.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Florida State or Oregon State to start. Again with the FSU?

Then West Virginia or Ga Tech.

Then Maryland or UCLA.

I can live with that.

 

[Sched234]

Florida State or Oregon State to start. Again with the FSU?

Then West Virginia or Ga Tech.

Then Maryland or UCLA.

I can live with that.

I did not want NC State in our region. I would have taken anyone else to avoid them and UConn. All in all, this is a relatively smooth road for SC—Maryland is the major hurdle, at least on paper.

I wonder who would win that matchup. We struggle to put points on the board sometimes, but that’s usually against good defensive teams. We could potentially match Maryland in production if we met up.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I did not want NC State in our region. I would have taken anyone else to avoid them and UConn. All in all, this is a relatively smooth road for SC—Maryland is the major hurdle, at least on paper.

I wonder who would win that matchup. We struggle to put points on the board sometimes, but that’s usually against good defensive teams. We could potentially match Maryland in production if we met up.

Grisette is out for the tournament so that makes none of this easier.

I'd probably give us the second hardest path.

1. UConn 2. SC 3. Stanford 4. Nc state

 

[ConwayGmck]

I did not want NC State in our region. I would have taken anyone else to avoid them and UConn. All in all, this is a relatively smooth road for SC—Maryland is the major hurdle, at least on paper.

I wonder who would win that matchup. We struggle to put points on the board sometimes, but that’s usually against good defensive teams. We could potentially match Maryland in production if we met up.

Maryland plays super up-tempo, and runs opponents out of the games offensively. They lead the nation in scoring offense, but scoring defense (8th in B10, 264th in WBB), FG % defense (7th, 219th), 3pt FG % defense (11th, 279th), and blocks/gm (9th, 178th), are all pedestrian or worse in a league that's not a great defensive league. They shoot very well. But the Gamecock's own offense has been better when it has been able to play up-tempo, so this may be a game of rapid-fire scoring on each end.

Questions: I doubt the Gamecocks would be able to match the Terps basket for basket, but can the Terps frustrate the Gamecocks defensively as well as the Gamecocks can with them? That could balance the scoring scales out a bit, but who knows.....

 

[ConwayGmck]

Grisette is out for the tournament so that makes none of this easier.

I'd probably give us the second hardest path.

1. UConn 2. SC 3. Stanford 4. Nc state

It will require Saxton to play more than the around 20 minutes per game she's been playing, and for Russell to play more minutes as well, to help pick up the slack. But it's a definite loss for us......

 

[Creature]

Reminds me of LeLe a little bit.

In what way does she remind you of LeLe ? I want to be educated because I see two totally different players. Breezy has a scorers mentality and LeLe did not coming out of high school IMO

 

[Creature]

Speaking of La'Keisha, she played her HS ball at Trenton Catholic, which stars the number 2 prospect in the 2023 class along with #23.

There are also a number of highly rated prospects from Metro Columbia in upcoming classes:

2022: #13 Ashlyn Watkins from Cardinal Newman in Columbia plus not far away #8 Talaysia Cooper from East Clarendon, about 60 miles away;

2023: #3 Malaysia Fulwiley from Keenan HS in Columbia

2024: # 8 Joyce Edwards from Camden HS

It will be nice to have some local stars again, like when Alaina and A'ja were on the team and like back in the 80s - early 2000s.

You better beleive Dawn and coach Fred are all over-c/o 23

Aalyah Del Rosario​

 

[Creature]

A Gamecock Legacy....hopefully she gets a solid and long look from Coach Staley and staff....

She has had a scholarship offer for awhile now OP

 

[Gamecockfan77]

In what way does she remind you of LeLe ? I want to be educated because I see two totally different players. Breezy has a scorers mentality and LeLe did not coming out of high school IMO

Similar frames and athleticism.

They both play the point in their team's full court pressure.

I think they move similarly.

 

[Creature]

Maybe it's just the power of suggestion, but she does remind me a lot of her dad, who did have a small NBA career.

She's pretty coltish and thin like Ryan was. Long arms to go along with pretty good touch. Lefty. Get her a bit stronger and more experienced, keep extending her range, maybe she grows another inch or two.

Still seems like a project to work on, but that is again what her dad was.

At this point she is still only 14 years old... no more than 15.. she has alot of time to mature

 

[Creature]

MUST HAVE!!! 😍

I am glad the staff offered her as a 7th grader

 

[Gamecockfan77]

She has had a scholarship offer for awhile now OP

She didn't claim one 6 days ago when the Anderson Paper wrote her up.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

At this point she is still only 14 years old... no more than 15.. she has alot of time to mature

Sophomore clips and numbers showed steady progress.

I liked listening to one of her interviews. She knows what she needs to work on.

 

[Creature]

Ive seen Rivers, Johnson, and Feagin in person on multiple occasions. I’ve only seen Hall once and person and I watched her last two previous playoff games. They’re all legit. I think they will all come in and fill the holes this years team has. A legit back up PG, Another shot creator and scorer from the perimeter, A versatile Forward that’s equally good both ways, and a long athletic playmaker both defensively and offensively. If they plug into their roles like the ‘19 class did then they’ll be a scary team to face.

Are you Jolette Law, Boyer ? or Coach Fred ? You are way to familiar with FBC United Mo and GA Pearls AAU circuit basketball in Metro Atlanta. lol . In support of your opinion-Coach Staley likes to use her incoming PG in the 2G backup role to start out but like TY Harris;I also think Johnson is the backup PG day one in Henderson's Sr year. She reminds me of Ty because of her mid-range pull up and she runs at variables speeds on offense. Her game imo is to pass the ball to the wing first before dribbling down the court and trying to distribute. I think Sania's trainer [Swain] really blossomed her game starting her 10th grade year to make her the versatile forward you identified .... I think Saniya Rivers is the X factor because she can get her own shot like Bueckers and Fudd IMO when the offense breaks down-she does not play rushed. I got high hopes for Hall but if LeLe Comes back-that may cut into her playing time..

 

[Creature]

Sophomore clips and numbers showed steady progress.

I liked listening to one of her interviews. She knows what she needs to work on.

Agreed. I also think her performance in the EYBL got her noticed IMO. The SC76ers who lost Fulwiley,Watkins and Edwards to the UA leauge in Atlanta this year & Cooper playing for Nc Team Curry -gave her an opportunity and she grabbed it and made it the best in terms of exsposure.

 

[SCspur]

Are you Jolette Law, Boyer ? or Coach Fred ? You are way to familiar with FBC United Mo and GA Pearls AAU circuit basketball in Metro Atlanta. lol . In support of your opinion-Coach Staley likes to use her incoming PG in the 2G backup role to start out but like TY Harris;I also think Johnson is the backup PG day one in Henderson's Sr year. She reminds me of Ty because of her mid-range pull up and she runs at variables speeds on offense. Her game imo is to pass the ball to the wing first before dribbling down the court and trying to distribute. I think Sania's trainer [Swain] really blossomed her game starting her 10th grade year to make her the versatile forward you identified .... I think Saniya Rivers is the X factor because she can get her own shot like Bueckers and Fudd IMO when the offense breaks down-she does not play rushed. I got high hopes for Hall but if LeLe Comes back-that may cut into her playing time..

No just a spectator. I have a connections with some AAU cocaches so I get to watch different teams play sometimes. Johnson has the goods. She will be like Ty was her freshman year, so calm and steady as a freshman. Rivers will probably be the best guard to come through SC when it’s said and done. She’s that good. Feagin probably has the best trainer in the Southeast in Swain. He’s transformed so many players games. Kayla McPherson and Jillian Hollingshead included. Feagin can shoot, dribble, pass, rebound, and block shots all at a high level. The sky is the limit for her. Hall also has a high ceiling she can defend multiple positions and has a very good midrange shot. I don’t see LeLe coming back so they all should get playing time.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

No just a spectator. I have a connections with some AAU cocaches so I get to watch different teams play sometimes. Johnson has the goods. She will be like Ty was her freshman year, so calm and steady as a freshman. Rivers will probably be the best guard to come through SC when it’s said and done. She’s that good. Feagin probably has the best trainer in the Southeast in Swain. He’s transformed so many players games. Kayla McPherson and Jillian Hollingshead included. Feagin can shoot, dribble, pass, rebound, and block shots all at a high level. The sky is the limit for her. Hall also has a high ceiling she can defend multiple positions and has a very good midrange shot. I don’t see LeLe coming back so they all should get playing time.

I feel like Hall might be a more natural scorer than Beal has turned out to be. Do you agree with that?

 

[SCGamecock]

I feel like Hall might be a more natural scorer than Beal has turned out to be. Do you agree with that?

Everything about Beal’s shooting motion seems unnatural to me... from the actual motion itself to the speed of her shot. I personally think she needs to work on the actual mechanics ... but then I’ll hear Dawn say she has a “good shot”...

So I’m confused once more haha, but not for long because I’m leaving it to the expert, Dawn.

Hall seems to have a solid all around game. A utility player.. she’s gonna give you length on the perimeter without handicapping you on offense, and right now I think she’s more of a natural scorer than Beal. She’s more aggressive at hunting her shot than Beal I think. When Beal is aggressive she’s REALLY good, but then she misses a few and loses confidence.. that’s when the opposing defense sags off of her because they know she’s no longer gonna shoot or slash to the basket.

 

[Sched234]

Everything about Beal’s shooting motion seems unnatural to me... from the actual motion itself to the speed of her shot. I personally think she needs to work on the actual mechanics ... but then I’ll hear Dawn say she has a “good shot”...

So I’m confused once more haha, but not for long because I’m leaving it to the expert, Dawn.

Hall seems to have a solid all around game. A utility player.. she’s gonna give you length on the perimeter without handicapping you on offense, and right now I think she’s more of a natural scorer than Beal. She’s more aggressive at hunting her shot than Beal I think. When Beal is aggressive she’s REALLY good, but then she misses a few and loses confidence.. that’s when the opposing defense sags off of her because they know she’s no longer gonna shoot or slash to the basket.

Yeah, I don’t want to say Beal has underperformed because she does so many things very well (her rebounding in particular is underrated to me), but she hasn’t emerged as much of a scorer and that’s what SC needs most nights.

There are issues for this Carolina team. Not a ton of dependable options. The incoming recruiting class is by all accounts far better than last year’s (which was pretty damn good), so even with Fudd at Connecticut I could see SC pushing for the national title next year. This year as well, but it feels like more of an outside shot.

 

[SCspur]

I feel like Hall might be a more natural scorer than Beal has turned out to be. Do you agree with that?

Yes. Hall can score from 3, midrange and attack off the dribble. She also has a very good handle at her size so she will be useful all over.

 

[SCGamecock]

Yeah, I don’t want to say Beal has underperformed because she does so many things very well (her rebounding in particular is underrated to me), but she hasn’t emerged as much of a scorer and that’s what SC needs most nights.

There are issues for this Carolina team. Not a ton of dependable options. The incoming recruiting class is by all accounts far better than last year’s (which was pretty damn good), so even with Fudd at Connecticut I could see SC pushing for the national title next year. This year as well, but it feels like more of an outside shot.

I would never count this team out because they've been inconsistent all year.. really bad when they're bad and really good when they're good. At times they've looked like the best team in the country and other times Sweet 16 at best... so I just don't know what I'm going to get when they suit up. I will say that they've been trending upwards since the tournament, which is when you want to be playing your best ball. I wouldn't be surprised if they won it all or if they were bounced early.

It's early, but I'm expecting a Final Four at the least next year and the year after. 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 might be some of the strongest Gamecock WBB teams ever.

2021-2022
Victaria Saxton
Destanni Henderson
Destiny Littleton
Elysa Wesolek

Aliyah Boston
Zia Cooke
Laeticia Amihere
Brea Beal
Olivia Thompson

Eniya Russell

Raven Johnson
Sania Feagin
Saniya Rivers
Bree Hall


2022-2023
Aliyah Boston
Zia Cooke
Laeticia Amihere
Brea Beal
Olivia Thompson

Eniya Russell

Raven Johnson
Sania Feagin
Saniya Rivers
Bree Hall

Freshman
Freshman
Freshman

 

[JDuro]

 

[visitingcock]

so, my feathered brethren and sistren:

At haltime of the season, what was your minimum expectation for this year? Not talking about pre-season when we (in our minds) still had Kiki and Ty. I'm talking about mid-season following the UConn loss.

At that time, I still thought of us as an F4 team. Tennessee and TAMU kinda dropped me to an Elite 8 hopeful but the SEC Tourney restored me.

I consider the season a bare success at this point, but want much much more. Gimmee' gravy!

 

[Gamecockfan77]

so, my feathered brethren and sistren:

At haltime of the season, what was your minimum expectation for this year? Not talking about pre-season when we (in our minds) still had Kiki and Ty. I'm talking about mid-season following the UConn loss.

At that time, I still thought of us as an F4 team. Tennessee and TAMU kinda dropped me to an Elite 8 hopeful but the SEC Tourney restored me.

I consider the season a bare success at this point, but want much much more. Gimmee' gravy!

I didn't really worry about the team much until they lost to Tennessee so badly. Following that up with the TAMU loss, it seemed fair to wonder if an early exit might be in the cards.

Still, heading into the tournament I thought Sweet 16 would be meeting minimum expectations, Final Four would be an unqualified success, Championship was possible.

I think they've got a good shot vs Stanford. Stanford easily has more depth and offensive orientation, but I don't think that the matchup is so bad. I think South Carolina probably should control the boards as I think they're bigger and stronger, if not always taller. That will be something I'm curious to see play out.