Gamecocks 2025-2026 Season

[Gamecockfan77]

given that both of SC's signees are out for their high school seasons and there is no guarantee Kitts, Watkins, or Okot are back next year this is even more important get.

Staying Final Four caliber is still going to be interesting.

 

[triaddukefan]

She’s played Professionally and she’s been to the States numerous of times. The only adjustment she might need is living in the Eastern Time Zone and the physical play of the SEC but coming from France I’m not too worried about that. She reminds me a lot of Victor Wembanyama.

You think the only adjustment for a 18 y/o French kid moving to South Carolina is living in the EST?

 

[visitingcock]

@visitingcock @SCsput
This kid played semi pro ball in Europe against FIBA competition. WE HAVE A STEWIE LEVEL TALENT SO MY LAST WORRY IS THE SEC BIGS. Her integration into what spot. 3 or 4 is the ?

Her 2.4 points and 2 rebounds per game in Europe make her a Stewie level talent? FIBA competition, so what? Joyce and Kitts dominated FIBA -she did not. She competed in Euro FIBA - where the best big was Sara Okeke.

Get real folks. I trust Dawn that she has POTENTIAL but I don’t think it’s reasonable to assume a major contribution THIS YEAR

 

[USMC(ret)]

Elated that she’s joining our team, but there will be an adjustment period, both on and off the court. Off the court: time zone adjustment, getting settled in new living quarters, getting enrolled in classes, meeting her new team. Pretty sure that S/C coach Molly Binnetti will evaluate where she is physically. On the court: adjusting to her assigned role, learning the flow of Gamecock offense/defense, etc.

Getting the “off the court” stuff right will set her up for success on the court. Really asking a lot for her to contribute this season. Assuming she is bi-lingual, given her mother’s experience in the U.S. Key player in her adjustment: Raven, who is our unofficial team captain. Raven makes things “work” on our team… she’s just wired that way.

 

[visitingcock]

I’ll wager she gives Koval/Joyner, Beers/Williams, and Cunningham/Oldacre the business!!! They’re all solid but far from world beating front courts. Texas’ backcourt is why we actually lost against them the first time.
I’m guessing you haven’t watched her highlights or games with Tango Bourges? They’re arguably as physical if not more in the Euroleage than the SEC and she definitely held her own. She’s not a physical style post up big but she’s not weak either and she has excellent touch around the rim extending 12-15 FT out. She can even knock down the three. I doubt the coaching staff would bring her onboard if they didn’t feel she could provide an impact this year.

I would take that wager except I don’t bet against gamecocks, I think that those bigs would eat her alive this year. We’ll see.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Her 2.4 points and 2 rebounds per game in Europe make her a Stewie level talent? FIBA competition, so what? Joyce and Kitts dominated FIBA -she did not. She competed in Euro FIBA - where the best big was Sara Okeke.

Get real folks. I trust Dawn that she has POTENTIAL but I don’t think it’s reasonable to assume a major contribution THIS YEAR

Joyce and Kitts played well in U-19 competition.

Tournebize is a deep reserve in a professional basketball league of adults.

These aren't apples and oranges.

I do not know enough about euroleague rosters to entirely judge the significance of her holding a roster spot on the team. If she were being carried by the Aces it would be significant.

But no question the competition level in euroleague is higher than college basketball or U-19.

It's full of former college stars and wnba reserves.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

so it's possible the next roster could be:

Maddy McDaniel
Tessa Johnson
Agot Makeer
Jersey Robinson
Ayla McDowell
Joyce Edwards
Chloe Kitts
Karli Wynn
Ashlyn Watkins
Medina Okot
Adhel Tac
Alicia Tournebize
Kelsi Andrews

Obviously Okot, Kitts, Watkins have other options, Andrews and/or Wynn may want to redshirt. So quite a lot of potential variations.

Seems like they need at least a guard that can handle the ball out of portal regardless.

If Onot is gone as she should be there is an argument for Okeke still - just saying.

 

[Creature]

No downside to bringing her in early, especially if it got them a leg up in recruitment.

She's a great player and whether she plays or not it's a big head start to next

I'm still greedy.

She is better than Chole right now. When Chloe started- we had 13 players. AT has only 10 to compete agaist

 

[Creature]

 

[WBBTakeover]

I don’t have any faith that Tournabize can help out with our depth this year. Glad she is coming but I don’t see her as having the strength to compete at an SEC level - yet. Texas and LSU bigs and Oklahoma will not let her near the paint.

The adults she practiced and played against are better than 75% of the bigs she'd face as a Gamecock. One of Texas' starting bigs came from Boston College. Come on, now.

 

[WBBTakeover]

The whole point of my original statement was trying to put an emphasis on the three as a group and not make this a comparison game. All three would be #1 overall candidates in most years, so I was fawning over the fact that there are three franchise-type players in this one draft -- which is very rare -- and they all have 2.5 years to continue growing.

I know what you meant.

Nothing's set in stone 2.5 years from their draft day. A lot can change between now and then.

 

[SCGamecock]

so it's possible the next roster could be:

Maddy McDaniel
Tessa Johnson
Agot Makeer
Jersey Robinson
Ayla McDowell
Joyce Edwards
Chloe Kitts
Karli Wynn
Ashlyn Watkins
Medina Okot
Adhel Tac
Alicia Tournebize
Kelsi Andrews

Obviously Okot, Kitts, Watkins have other options, Andrews and/or Wynn may want to redshirt. So quite a lot of potential variations.

Seems like they need at least guard that can handle the ball out of portal regardless.

If Onot os gone as she should be there os an argument for Okeke still - just saying.

It’s amazing that Maddy would be the only player under 6 feet on this hypothetical roster. This is a roster that’s long, quick and can score.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

She is better than Chole right now. When Chloe started- we had 13 players. AT has only 10 to compete agaist

I would be very surprised if that's true, but if Tournebize ends up looking better than the 10 and 7 and totally in the flow of the game Kitts from last season that would be great for the team.

 

[bballnut90]

Very intrigued to see her play. At first glance there are shades of Cameron Brink to her game with her length and athleticism. Hard to tell how we’ll Euro-league highlights translate, but if she stays in Columbia for 3 years she come become a monster

 

[GamecockFam]

Tournebize to join Gamecocks after holiday break

South Carolina head women's basketball coach Dawn Staley announced that Alicia Tournebize has signed a financial aid agreement

247sports.com

 

[GamecockFam]

 

[oldhusky]

Seems to me there are several possibilities for how this season could play out for her. She could play immediately, she could practice and just wait for next year, or she could try to be ready if needed and be injury insurance in case Edwards, Okot, Dauda or Tak got injured.

I don't think playing mop up minutes makes much sense to lose much of a year of eligibility. But if in practice she is performing better than Dauda and/or Tac, or is thrown into the potential rotation because of injury, then it seems to make sense for her to play this season, particularly with SC being a legitimate contender.

I suspect that her or Okeke was an either or situation, not both since multiple talented bigs could return next season.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Very intrigued to see her play. At first glance there are shades of Cameron Brink to her game with her length and athleticism. Hard to tell how we’ll Euro-league highlights translate, but if she stays in Columbia for 3 years she come become a monster

Brink and Fournier do come to mind as possible analogues.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

You think the only adjustment for a 18 y/o French kid moving to South Carolina is living in the EST?

It was a huge culture shock when I moved from New Jersey - 53 years ago. It's still a culture shock, to be honest.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

She looked pretty comfortable on that 3, also. I could hardly work, this afternoon, I was so excited about this.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Sort of a missing piece. Life just got more interesting, right?

 

[WBBTakeover]

Brink and Fournier do come to mind as possible analogues.

There's a dash of Stewie in there as well. Turnaround gave some shades of A'ja.

Disclaimer: I am not suggesting that Alicia Tournebize will be Stewie 2.0 or A'ja 2.0. However, if she wants to come in and provide a major boost off the bench as a freshman like those two, then she can be my guest!

 

[WBBTakeover]

Y'all, this girl is not just 6'4!!!! 🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣 Ain't no way!

For comparison's sake, here's our 4x WNBA M'VP, who is a legit 6'4:

 

[JstVisiting]

…A UConn/Texas matchup would be fun.

Carolina or LSU is winning the SEC.

 

[JstVisiting]

Y'all, this girl is not just 6'4!!!! 🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣 Ain't no way!

Staley says she’s now 6’7