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USC Gamecocks - The Offseason 2025

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I'd like to see Okot's mid range numbers.

I think it's correct she does most of her damage point blank.

Highlights show good hands on offensive side, no sign of awkwardness in converting layups, while moving toward the bucket, honestly a more willing post game that Boston or Cardoso (though highlights always are the best version).

Defensively those long arms poke a lot of balls, she seems pretty overall aware. She's not rooted to a spot and she does affect shots.

Athletically she seems fine and I think she's going to be good for us.

If she can make face ups going to be tough to handle.
 
oldude said:
Are you sure about that? You do realize that Okot did not take a single 3-pt shot all of last season with MSSt. Okot is most effective within 5’ of the basket.

I would be astonished if Dawn lets her take 1-2 x 3-pt shots all next season, let alone 1-2 per game.
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Dawn has been encouraging her bigs to take more three pointers, Kamilla included. For whatever reason no one but Kitts and Dauda have really taken advantage of it.
Gamecockfan77 said:
I'd like to see Okot's mid range numbers.

I think it's correct she does most of her damage point blank.

Highlights show good hands on offensive side, no sign of awkwardness in converting layups, while moving toward the bucket, honestly a more willing post game that Boston or Cardoso (though highlights always are the best version).

Defensively those long arms poke a lot of balls, she seems pretty overall aware. She's not rooted to a spot and she does affect shots.

Athletically she seems fine and I think she's going to be good for us.

If she can make face ups going to be tough to handle.
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Okot led the SEC in FG% (4th in NCAA), OREB%, DREB%, and TREB% (3rd in NCAA) last season. She has good touch around the basket and also has a quality 10 footer too. She also basically averaged a double-double in 22 minutes of play per game. All of this is to say that there is clearly talent showing through those stats. I really think she is going to turn heads in Coach Staley's system. She is basically a more offensively gifted version of Kamilla. I think last year she didn't get to show all of her bag because she was so new to the United States and NCAA basketball.
 
oldude said:
Are you sure about that? You do realize that Okot did not take a single 3-pt shot all of last season with MSSt. Okot is most effective within 5’ of the basket.

I would be astonished if Dawn lets her take 1-2 x 3-pt shots all next season, let alone 1-2 per game.
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I’ll go by what the coaches and all the players have said. Just because she played a certain way at Miss St doesn’t mean she’ll be the same at SC. I see a lot of fans of other teams feel like they’ll see the same version of Okot that they saw at Miss St . Y’all are going to be surprised.
 
SCspur said:
I’ll go by what the coaches and all the players have said. Just because she played a certain way at Miss St doesn’t mean she’ll be the same at SC. I see a lot of fans of other teams feel like they’ll see the same version of Okot that they saw at Miss St . Y’all are going to be surprised.
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I hope I am, and am looking forward to it, since without Watkins, Dawn really needs someone to step up in the frontcourt. Neither Dauda and Tac were able to do it last season when they were really needed. A lot rides on Okot’s being able to live up to the hype. My worry is that transforming her style of play to suit a new system isn’t easy and may require more than one season. I gather this same concern is part of what motivates all the talk about getting her more than one season of eligibility.
 
Bone Dog said:
I hope I am, and am looking forward to it, since without Watkins, Dawn really needs someone to step up in the frontcourt. Neither Dauda and Tac were able to do it last season when they were really needed. A lot rides on Okot’s being able to live up to the hype. My worry is that transforming her style of play to suit a new system isn’t easy and may require more than one season. I gather this same concern is part of what motivates all the talk about getting her more than one season of eligibility.
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So do you as a UConn fan feel this way about Williams? I’m sure what Geno and UConn require of their players is totally different than what was expected and done at Wisconsin. Way more complicated offensive schemes. So do you think she’ll be better served with another year or she’ll get it right away? Madina’s situation imo is much different than Dauda and I expect her transition into SC’s system to be much easier simply because Miss St bigs do similar things to SC’s bigs. She’s very good in the screen and roll game and I suspect Dawn will go to that often with her and Latson or her and Raven.

As to Dauda and Tac. I think people wrote them off too quick. Dauda came from a team where defense and rebound are dang near non existent and all she had to do was float on the perimeter and shoot 3s. Of course it was going to be a major transition for her. However all the coaches confirmed her staying on campus this past summer and having a year in the system has her looking like an entirely different and determined player. She’s expected to make a big impact this year. Same with Tac who was recovering from two major injuries. By all accounts both have improved tremendously and will look completely different and comfortable in the system. Of course it still remains to be seen.
 
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GamecockFam said:
Dawn has been encouraging her bigs to take more three pointers, Kamilla included. For whatever reason no one but Kitts and Dauda have really taken advantage of it.

Okot led the SEC in FG% (4th in NCAA), OREB%, DREB%, and TREB% (3rd in NCAA) last season. She has good touch around the basket and also has a quality 10 footer too. She also basically averaged a double-double in 22 minutes of play per game. All of this is to say that there is clearly talent showing through those stats. I really think she is going to turn heads in Coach Staley's system. She is basically a more offensively gifted version of Kamilla. I think last year she didn't get to show all of her bag because she was so new to the United States and NCAA basketball.
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Kitts is certainly a player who has potential to be a solid 3-pt shooter. But it’s hard for me to consider her a true Big. As for Dauda, she hoisted up 91 x 3-pt shots in her last year at Arkansas, so she’s never had a problem pulling the trigger.

The only game I watched Okot play was the NCAA tournament game against USC. She is clearly a bull in the paint. But she did not demonstrate to me the ability to step out on the court offensively or defensively. In fact, after Juju went down, both Iriafen & Marshall had big games against MSSt’s frontcourt.

Rather than encouraging Okot to shoot 3’s, I would expect that Dawn is working feverishly with her on high screen and rolls with Latson and the other SC guards who can attack the basket. If Okot becomes proficient at the pick and pop off that action, whether it’s a 15’ jumper or a 3-pt shot, all the better. But her ability to roll to the basket like a freight train would be pretty damned impressive.
 
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SCspur said:
I’ll go by what the coaches and all the players have said. Just because she played a certain way at Miss St doesn’t mean she’ll be the same at SC. I see a lot of fans of other teams feel like they’ll see the same version of Okot that they saw at Miss St . Y’all are going to be surprised.
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Certainly, I would expect Okot to be a much better version of herself at SC under Dawn with another year of development. Having watched her play just one time in the NCAA tournament against SC, I was very impressed with her aggressiveness in the paint. But nothing about her game demonstrated the ability to shoot 3’s.

If that changes this coming season, it will be something of a metamorphosis. As I indicate to GamecockFam, I would be working feverishly with Okot to master the high screen and roll with Latson and my other guards, something that could be an extremely effective offensive weapon.
 
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SCspur said:
So do you as a UConn fan feel this way about Williams? I’m sure what Geno and UConn require of their players is totally different than what was expected and done at Wisconsin. Way more complicated offensive schemes. So do you think she’ll be better served with another year or she’ll get it right away? Madina’s situation imo is much different than Dauda and I expect her transition into SC’s system to be much easier simply because Miss St bigs do similar things to SC’s bigs. She’s very good in the screen and roll game and I suspect Dawn will go to that often with her and Latson or her and Raven.

As to Dauda and Tac. I think people wrote them off too quick. Dauda came from a team where defense and rebound are dang near non existent and all she had to do was float on the perimeter and shoot 3s. Of course it was going to be a major transition for her. However all the coaches confirmed her staying on campus this past summer and having a year in the system has her looking like an entirely different and determined player. She’s expected to make a big impact this year. Same with Tac who was recovering from two major injuries. By all accounts both have improved tremendously and will look completely different and comfortable in the system. Of course it still remains to be seen.
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I hope you’re right about Madina being able to transition more smoothly. And, yes, I absolutely share this same concern about Williams at UConn, if you really want to take a look at this. In fact, the problem may be more acute in Geno’s system which strikes me as even more complex than Dawn’s, at least on offense. What’s more, Williams is entering in the aftermath of the departure of a superstar and may feel more pressure to produce on offense. The only advantage for Williams is that she’s already demonstrated a more diverse skill set than Madina, including passing and midrange shooting. Madina may already have those skills, but I didn’t see them in the two games I was able to see last season. What they mainly share is having come from weaker programs, and this is what mainly creates the hurdle. How do you go from being the go-to scorer and defender to being just another cog in a more complex machine? Of course, the system at Wisconsin was perhaps a little closer offensively to UConn’s than Miss St was to Dawn’s. The other advantage Williams may have, whether she realizes it or not, is that despite the departure of Bueckers, the offensive arsenal at UConn may be a bit more loaded than what Madina may find at SC.

Folks may have written off Dauda and Tac too quickly. But Dawn’s staff was among this group, judging from minutes played in the big games. Despite this, it wouldn’t surprise me if Maryam also showed more this season than last. She is quick and strong, and I expect Dawn will be able to get more out of her. If it were possible to get 20 mins out of both Maryam and Madina this season, that might well feel like a return to the great front courts of the last several years.

That said, I really hope Joyce is a starter this season. I thought it was a mistake to limit her minutes and it seemed to put too much pressure on Chloe to play more physically than she’s really built for. But that may simply have been forced on Dawn by the injury to Ashlyn. If Madina and Maryam can alleviate this problem, I expect SC will once again be overwhelming in the paint.
 
We've had "specialists" that clocked in the low 30s. But I do think multiple players and coaches commenting on Okot having range suggests that she can make them here and there.
 
Gamecockfan77 said:
We've had "specialists" that clocked in the low 30s. But I do think multiple players and coaches commenting on Okot having range suggests that she can make them here and there.
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Back in January of 2023, I had tickets to a UConn game at the XL Center. My wife and I arrived early enough to see the player shoot around, before the actual structured pregame warmups. UConn had just signed and redshirted Jana El Alfy for the spring semester. She had, and still has, a beautiful shooting stroke, all the way out to the 3-pt line. She is the daughter of the HC for the Egyptian national team, having played basketball from age 3.

Needless to say, I was really excited as I watched Jana drain one 3 after another. Fast forward, after a missing the 23-24 season with an Achilles tear, Jana slowly but surely developed this past season to become a capable college Big. She took exactly 4 x 3-pt shots all season, making 1.

While all UConn fans are hopeful that Jana can unlock her shooting touch this coming season, particularly from the arc, there is a big difference between making shots in practice and knocking them down during the pressure of games.

Okot may well bridge that chasm for the Gamecocks this coming season. Time will tell.
 
I think Dauda and Tac will be the most improved players this season. Tac was rusty after not competing for 2 seasons and Dauda had to completely reinvent her game. Towards the end of last season, Dawn showed more confidence in Dauda. On another note, on my way home for lunch, the other day, I saw Taco Bell riding a scooter through the Vista. Seeing someone her height riding a little scooter made me chuckle.
 
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SCspur said:
So do you as a UConn fan feel this way about Williams? I’m sure what Geno and UConn require of their players is totally different than what was expected and done at Wisconsin. Way more complicated offensive schemes. So do you think she’ll be better served with another year or she’ll get it right away? Madina’s situation imo is much different than Dauda and I expect her transition into SC’s system to be much easier simply because Miss St bigs do similar things to SC’s bigs. She’s very good in the screen and roll game and I suspect Dawn will go to that often with her and Latson or her and Raven.

As to Dauda and Tac. I think people wrote them off too quick. Dauda came from a team where defense and rebound are dang near non existent and all she had to do was float on the perimeter and shoot 3s. Of course it was going to be a major transition for her. However all the coaches confirmed her staying on campus this past summer and having a year in the system has her looking like an entirely different and determined player. She’s expected to make a big impact this year. Same with Tac who was recovering from two major injuries. By all accounts both have improved tremendously and will look completely different and comfortable in the system. Of course it still remains to be seen.
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I'm chiming in as I've watched Serah Williams and know her prep school coach. The answer is yes.

Dave Picton's background in basketball goes back decades from his playing days, including time with Canada Basketball. Savvy basketball mind and very technical. He's responsible for the development of Jordyn Wheeler a top ESPN 2027 prospect who has committed to Stanford.
 
cockhrnleghrn said:
I think Dauda and Taco Bell will be the most improved players this season. Tac was rusty after not competing for 2 seasons and Dauda had to completely reinvent her game. Towards the end of last season, Dawn showed more confidence in Dauda. On another note, on my way home for lunch, the other day, I saw Taco Bell riding a scooter through the Vista. Seeing someone her height riding a little scooter made me chuckle.
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OMG, for autocorrect. I'm fixing her name. I don't even go to Taco Bell; I don't know why it would have autocorrected to that.
 
There are practically zero videos out there from her youth in Kenya but I was lucky and found this one which has her making two shots from behind the arc during 3x3 (one was a lucky bank shot). All of this is to say that she had this in her bag before Mississippi State.

 
Garnet’s definitely her color.

IMG_9190.jpeg
 
I was running around town all day yesterday and really didn't get the time to address some comments though I think everyone pretty much hashed out my thoughts. So I'll say in summary that I believe at the worst Okot will be an adequate Cardoso replacement who is a reliable offensive/defensive talent within 10 feet of the basket and who is athletic for her size. I doubt she will take many shots outside of 10 feet because of the value she will bring in that space (rebounding, etc.) but if defenses are sagging off her outside of the paint, unlike Cardoso, I think she will take the shot, including three pointers.
 
I think putting the floor at Cardoso is a little too otimiatic, but I do think the floor is far above average and a skill set that fits what SCar likes to do. .
 
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JDuro said:
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Just summing up some of the statements made on the players late in the interview...

Latson - Willingness to play with great players. Super coachable. Intent to get better defensively.

McDaniel - trying to be a vocal leader. Playing hard-nose defense and really focusing on taking her game to that next level.

T. Johnson - She wants a consistent shooting season and to not just be know as "tournament Tessa". Really good habits and working on making plays off the dribble. Expected to be a leader on this team

Edwards - Uber talented. Working on refining her skills. Has those intangibles that you just can't teach.

Okot - "our big woman in the middle and [...] she is going to try to cement herself in that role" She is really skilled and can shoot the 3, can pass well, can post, and moves well for her size. Resembles Kamilla.

Tac - Taken leaps from last year. She is catching, finishing, defending, talking. Has maturation of a 4th year player. Looking to increase her minutes and has really taken strides this off-season.

Kitts - Brings fabric of toughness that program prides on and is super competitive in practice. Willing to put it all on the floor in practice and win everything. Skillset to dribble and pass. Really focusing on her 3 ball this off season. Sets tone by example.

McDowell - "Cooking up that 3 ball in practice." Shooting really well. Committed to guard her position and understanding concepts and plays. For a freshman is retaining and applying concepts at a high level.

R. Johnson - "Phenomenal summer". She has gotten her body and mind in shape for season. Knocking down shots and getting to the basket. Pushing tempo. She looks like a senior getting ready for her senior year. Ready to be the team leader and face of team this season.

Dauda - Humble kid. Rebounding the heck out the ball in practice and defending her position. Thinks it just took a year to get comfortable in our system but she is prepared for this year after going through last season.

Makeer - Lightning quick, can shoot, challenging herself to play multiple positions, super long. Super competitive, probably second to Kitts. Has raised the level of practice lately.
 
Gamecockfan77 said:
I think putting the floor at Cardoso is a little too otimiatic, but I do think the floor is far above average and a skill set that fits what SCar likes to do. .
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I'm not talking about her floor in the sense of production but in the sense of her "bag" as the players like to call it.
 
GamecockFam said:
Just summing up some of the statements made on the players late in the interview...

Latson - Willingness to play with great players. Super coachable. Intent to get better defensively.

McDaniel - trying to be a vocal leader. Playing hard-nose defense and really focusing on taking her game to that next level.

T. Johnson - She wants a consistent shooting season and to not just be know as "tournament Tessa". Really good habits and working on making plays off the dribble. Expected to be a leader on this team

Edwards - Uber talented. Working on refining her skills. Has those intangibles that you just can't teach.

Okot - "our big woman in the middle and [...] she is going to try to cement herself in that role" She is really skilled and can shoot the 3, can pass well, can post, and moves well for her size. Resembles Kamilla.

Tac - Taken leaps from last year. She is catching, finishing, defending, talking. Has maturation of a 4th year player. Looking to increase her minutes and has really taken strides this off-season.

Kitts - Brings fabric of toughness that program prides on and is super competitive in practice. Willing to put it all on the floor in practice and win everything. Skillset to dribble and pass. Really focusing on her 3 ball this off season. Sets tone by example.

McDowell - "Cooking up that 3 ball in practice." Shooting really well. Committed to guard her position and understanding concepts and plays. For a freshman is retaining and applying concepts at a high level.

R. Johnson - "Phenomenal summer". She has gotten her body and mind in shape for season. Knocking down shots and getting to the basket. Pushing tempo. She looks like a senior getting ready for her senior year. Ready to be the team leader and face of team this season.

Dauda - Humble kid. Rebounding the heck out the ball in practice and defending her position. Thinks it just took a year to get comfortable in our system but she is prepared for this year after going through last season.

Makeer - Lightning quick, can shoot, challenging herself to play multiple positions, super long. Super competitive, probably second to Kitts. Has raised the level of practice lately.
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I found the remarks about Okot reassuring. I really hope to see exactly what the video forecasts. And if Maryam really does become the rebounder and defender that she has the physical skills to be, then Okot’s job will be that much easier.

The one puzzle for me is how to mesh all the frontcourt players: Okot, Maryam, Joyce and Chloe. If Chloe could move to the wing for part of her minutes without too much cost in team speed, that could be a really powerful front court. If she improves her perimeter shot, this would be a no-brainer, with Joyce and Okot/Dauda at the 4 and 5 would become the strongest combination since Aliyah’s great years with Saxton and later Kamila. It’s kind of thrilling to think of it.

I think a lot depends on Chloe to make this work. And I suspect being able to move further from the post will do wonders for her game, which is already formidable. So it’s good to hear about the intensity she’s bringing to practices. This has the makings of a great season.
 
GamecockFam said:
There are practically zero videos out there from her youth in Kenya but I was lucky and found this one which has her making two shots from behind the arc during 3x3 (one was a lucky bank shot). All of this is to say that she had this in her bag before Mississippi State.

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My brother and s-i-l are in Kenya right now; I should get him to gather data. He's a Maryland fan, though.
 
Kitts was just drilling threes in the background of one of those videos.

I expect to see her take more this year.

Dauda graded out as a pretty good defender last season. It was her offensive confidence that struggled to me. I do think she will have a bigger role.

It seems likely they will play Edwards/Kitts at some wing this season.

Kitts was a good defender, but she was not capable of defending Betts or Texas sized bigs last season but made big strides with strength. Her sophomore year she was constantly getting knocked down and that was greatly diminished as a junior.

Edwards was not particularly good on the defensive end but like all Dawn players, not terrible.
 
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Gamecockfan77 said:
Kitts was just drilling threes in the background of one of those videos.

I expect to see her take more this year.

Dauda graded out as a pretty good defender last season. It was her offensive confidence that struggled to me. I do think she will have a bigger role.

It seems likely they will play Edwards/Kitts at some wing this season.

Kitts was a good defender, but she was not capable of defending Betts or Texas sized bigs last season but made big strides with strength. Her sophomore year she was constantly getting knocked down and that was greatly diminished as a junior.

Edwards was not particularly good on the defensive end but like all Dawn players, not terrible.
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Kitts handled the Texas bigs in. 3 out of 4 games including the SEC conference championship . Oldacre bullied her in Austin.
darrell said:
Don’t mean to cause panic to my Gamecock friends, but I saw this picture of Chloe in another group I’m in. Does anyone know what happened?

View attachment 112112
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oh crap
 
Hopefully the brace looks worse than the actual injury, but worse case scenario, we know Chloe still has a redshirt at her disposal. Her choosing not to use the RS as an early enrollee (like her little sister chose to do at UF), could end up being beneficial. Would save her the trouble of applying for a medical.
 
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