USC Gamecocks 2024-25 Season: Part Two | Page 37 | The Boneyard

USC Gamecocks 2024-25 Season: Part Two

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Ok, so SC now has Tessa, Raven, Latson, and Fulwiley. Raven posted on SM "get me a post" or something like that. How does Dawn juggle the four guards?
 
MiLaysia was all for playing with Latson two weeks ago when asked about her. We‘ll see how specu concerning this team and the portal play out in the coming days.

Several Gamecock connections likely helped sweeten the deal to bring Latson to Columbia.

Latson won state championships in Georgia with Raven Johnson at West Lake High. She also played AAU ball alongside MiLaysia Fulwiley, Joyce Edwards, Ashlyn Watkins and Kamilla Cardoso.

“I would tell her let’s run it back,” Johnson said of Latson before the Sweet 16. “She knows what a winning culture feels like, a disciplined basketball team. She knows all that stuff. I’m definitely trying to get her to come here. I’m in her ear, I’m definitely in her ear. I’d be happy, we all would be happy to play with her.”

Fulwiley told the Greenville News before the Sweet 16 that Latson’s addition could spell another undefeated season for the Gamecocks. “Man, I would love that. Raven and I were just talking about that,” Fulwiley told the Greenville News. “She kind of reminds me of myself. She has a high motor that doesn’t stop. If we have that here, I think that might be another undefeated season.”

Read more at: https://www.thestate.com/sports/col...asketball/article303652661.html#storylink=cpy
 
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SCGamecock said:
Why is every school allowed to have a bench except SC? LOL

If the PLAYERS choose to (go to SC/stay at SC) and (compete for the starting lineup/come off the bench) then let them make that choice.
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Because South Carolina isn't allowed to improve, silly! :p

Every other program in the country can bring in better players to address their deficiencies, but when Dawn does it--it's a problem! ;)

Oh well! It's better to be HATED than PITIED! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
 
SCGamecock said:
Why is every school allowed to have a bench except SC? LOL

If the PLAYERS choose to (go to SC/stay at SC) and (compete for the starting lineup/come off the bench) then let them make that choice.
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It’s more that the players potentially coming off the bench would be upperclassman with potential to be top 5-10 WNBA draft picks in the next 2 years.
If Tessa Johnson/Fulwiley are fine coming off the bench for a 3rd straight year then props to Dawn for getting them to buy in and make it work, but most players of their talent level wouldn’t be on board with it.
 
So, what else do we need from the portal?

Outgoing players:
Tehina Paopao, G (WNBA draft)
Bree Hall, G (WNBA draft)
Sania Feagin, F (WNBA draft)
Sakima Walker, C (Portal)

Seniors:
Mariam Dauda, F
Chloe Kitts, F
Ashlynn Watkins, F (could she Redshirt or come back for a 5th year?)
Raven Johnson, G
Ta'Niya Latson, G

Juniors:
Tessa Johnson, G
MiLaysia Fulwiley, G

Sophomores:
Maddy McDaniel, G
Joyce Edwards, F
Ahdel Tac, F (Redshirt)

Freshmen:
Agot Makeer, G
Alya McDowell, G/F?
 
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There’s rumors we’re losing one rotation player and one (rising) freshman. Anybody heard this from any source you’d consider reliable?
 
GamecockFam said:
So, what else do we need from the portal?

Outgoing players:
Tehina Paopao, G (WNBA draft)
Bree Hall, G (WNBA draft)
Sania Feagin, F (WNBA draft)
Sakima Walker, C (Portal)

Seniors:
Mariam Dauda, F
Chloe Kitts, F
Ashlynn Watkins, F (could she Redshirt or come back for a 5th year?)
Raven Johnson, G
Ta'Niya Latson, G

Juniors:
Tessa Johnson, G
MiLaysia Fulwiley, G

Sophomores:
Maddy McDaniel, G
Joyce Edwards, F
Ahdel Tac, F (Redshirt)

Freshmen:
Agot Makeer, G
Alya McDowell, G/F?
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Didn’t realize we’re only at 12.

A post like Serah Williams would be the only need as far as I see. I don’t know how good she is but her numbers are really nice. Of course a lot could be taken care of if Ashlynn is ready to come back sometime in the season, Dauda builds upon her improvement the last few weeks and provides effective play, and maybe most importantly, that Tac starts realizing her potential and at least provides 12-15 minutes off the bench.

Very curious to see who Kylee Kitts has lined up to transfer to. She going to join her sis?

On a greedy note, I’d love to see Dawn snatch up Kneepkins. One can always use a 44% three pt shooter. :p
 
GamecockFam said:
So, what else do we need from the portal?

Outgoing players:
Tehina Paopao, G (WNBA draft)
Bree Hall, G (WNBA draft)
Sania Feagin, F (WNBA draft)
Sakima Walker, C (Portal)

Seniors:
Mariam Dauda, F
Chloe Kitts, F
Ashlynn Watkins, F (could she Redshirt or come back for a 5th year?)
Raven Johnson, G
Ta'Niya Latson, G

Juniors:
Tessa Johnson, G
MiLaysia Fulwiley, G

Sophomores:
Maddy McDaniel, G
Joyce Edwards, F
Ahdel Tac, F (Redshirt)

Freshmen:
Agot Makeer, G
Alya McDowell, G/F?
Expand ...
A true post like Cardosa, Boston?
 
Gamecockfan77 said:
Probably still coming off the bench or transferring.

I suppose it's possible Dawn could play three small guards or that Fulwiley beats out Raven or something, but doesn't seem probable.

It's an interesting culture experiment to inject a scorer into a roster of good pieces.
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She played in HS/AAU with many of the current Gamecocks, who openly recruited her to transfer to SC, so I don't see anyone transferring.
 
JstVisiting said:
There’s rumors we’re losing one rotation player and one (rising) freshman. Anybody heard this from any source you’d consider reliable?
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I've seen rumors swirling that Maddy was homesick and Tessa will leave because of the Latson acquisition. Maddy's mom has confirmed that she isn't going anywhere and the Tessa rumors are 100% fan driven with zero shred of proof. There is another rumor that MiLaysia's mom wants her to transfer. I don't know the validity of that statement and it seems like another fan-driven rumor. All I know is that MiLaysia made comments stating that she was recruiting Latson, so it seems odd to me that she would leave.
 
GamecockFam said:
I've seen rumors swirling that Maddy was homesick and Tessa will leave because of the Latson acquisition. Maddy's mom has confirmed that she isn't going anywhere and the Tessa rumors are 100% fan driven with zero shred of proof. There is another rumor that MiLaysia's mom wants her to transfer. I don't know the validity of that statement and it seems like another fan-driven rumor. All I know is that MiLaysia made comments stating that she was recruiting Latson, so it seems odd to me that she would leave.
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I think only Sakima Walker is leaving, which isn't a surprise at all. Word is that Maddy's mom said she's staying and I think Tessa is the starting 3 next season. Latson is a 2, through and through. I don't pay nearly as much attention to recruiting as I did, years ago, because as a 61 YO, I shouldn't be spending my time worrying about where high school and college students are going.
 
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JstVisiting said:
There’s rumors we’re losing one rotation player and one (rising) freshman. Anybody heard this from any source you’d consider reliable?
Expand ...
If they were going to enter the transfer portal, it would have had to be done by 5pm today. If they transfer after that, the old transfer rules apply.
 
JDuro said:
Didn’t realize we’re only at 12.

A post like Serah Williams would be the only need as far as I see. I don’t know how good she is but her numbers are really nice. Of course a lot could be taken care of if Ashlynn is ready to come back sometime in the season, Dauda builds upon her improvement the last few weeks and provides effective play, and maybe most importantly, that Tac starts realizing her potential and at least provides 12-15 minutes off the bench.

Very curious to see who Kylee Kitts has lined up to transfer to. She going to join her sis?

On a greedy note, I’d love to see Dawn snatch up Kneepkins. One can always use a 44% three pt shooter. :p
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I'll offer my perspective on Serah Williams. Having followed the Big Ten closely for a handful of seasons, I had a few opportunities to see Serah play (it's hard--Wisconsin is hardly ever on TV). With the exception of one time, she gave me "best player on a bad team" vibes and not much more than that. She's talented, and that clearly shows up whenever she plays. Instincts are great--especially defensively. Production is top notch. However, her play doesn't really "wow" you in a way that it should--given her numbers and her physical advantages over the typical non-Lauren Betts B1G post. She's probably good enough to be a starter on a Top 25 or even a Top 10 team. I just don't see "dominant big" or "paint anchor" with her. "Nice rotation piece" is what I'd call her. She'd be great to have, but I don't think she moves the needle for this team. Maryam could, with another year in the system, possibly cover what Serah would bring to the team (versatility, shot blocking). That's JMO--hardly the gospel. :D

Admittedly, I'm higher on Madina Okot because she's a true center and due to her standout rebounding ability (not just in terms of the numbers but also in terms of technique/execution). She might be the missing piece, assuming there is one.

Kneepkins would be an amazing pick-up! If that were to happen, my goodness! :eek:
 
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GamecockFam said:
Read that we are heavily pursuing Okot from Mississippi State. No source, so TIFWIW. She would be a junior.
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That would be great. Silva was my first choice big, but she’s more of a down the road. Okot was second and should almost definitely be the better player next year.

If we get Latson and Okot without losing anyone else, I might reassess my 2026 rankings.

Rn, I’d have
UCLA
-tier-
Carolina
UConn
-tier-
Duke (he’s going to be insufferable)
Texas
LSU
Southern Cal ?
 
I need to keep in mind that UConn whipped SCar every bit as badly as they whipped UCLA and that UCLA thoroughly thrashed SCar in November.

I think Strong was UConn's best player in the Final Four and Fudd was beating SCar off dribble and defending just fine. Honestly a big 2 might be good enough. I don't know.

Overreacting perhaps to what I just saw.
 
Gamecockfan77 said:
I need to keep in mind that UConn whipped SCar every bit as badly as they whipped UCLA and that UCLA thoroughly thrashed SCar in November.

I think Strong was UConn's best player in the Final Four and Fudd was beating SCar off dribble and defending just fine. Honestly a big 2 might be good enough. I don't know.

Overreacting perhaps to what I just saw.
Expand ...
Like some on the UConn board, you are underestimating the loss of Paige. She draws a ton of attention from the defense and which inevitably helped Sarah’s game and also Azzis. Paige with her intangibles and leadership also gave the team a less pressure in pressure moments. It will be hard to replace. Yes having Sarah and Azzi is a great combo, but what made it work so well this year was the options the three together created. I’m not sure we will be close to that next year.
 
JDuro said:
Didn’t realize we’re only at 12.

A post like Serah Williams would be the only need as far as I see. I don’t know how good she is but her numbers are really nice. Of course a lot could be taken care of if Ashlynn is ready to come back sometime in the season, Dauda builds upon her improvement the last few weeks and provides effective play, and maybe most importantly, that Tac starts realizing her potential and at least provides 12-15 minutes off the bench.

Very curious to see who Kylee Kitts has lined up to transfer to. She going to join her sis?

On a greedy note, I’d love to see Dawn snatch up Kneepkins. One can always use a 44% three pt shooter. :p
Expand ...
Any news on whether Kylee Kitts is going to SC? And how does that change our roster. I believe she would be a redshirt freshman?
 
ABCDFE said:
Like some on the UConn board, you are underestimating the loss of Paige. She draws a ton of attention from the defense and which inevitably helped Sarah’s game and also Azzis. Paige with her intangibles and leadership also gave the team a less pressure in pressure moments. It will be hard to replace. Yes having Sarah and Azzi is a great combo, but what made it work so well this year was the options the three together created. I’m not sure we will be close to that next year.
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Geno will figure things out, as he always does. The one season UConn played entirely without Paige, with a bunch of players injured, the team still managed to get back to the Sweet 16. While it’s true they lost to tOSU, the team UConn fields next season will be far more talented.

The other thing I would argue is that UConn established an identity this year as the best defensive team in the nation. Even without Paige, Kaitlyn and Aubrey, I don’t see that changing next season.

Without Paige, the Huskies may not be able to beat UCLA & SC by 34pts & 23pts respectively. But I’m happy to settle for 10pt wins against both teams. ;)
 
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